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UCL calls for environmental justice reform
24 November 2003
University College London (UCL) will today host a conference calling for the government to address the issue of how environmental justice works in the UK.
Professor Richard Macrory, Director of the Centre
for Law and the Environment at (UCL), today comments: "The recent research
reveals a disturbing picture of how environmental justice works on the ground
in the UK. The Government needs to take a hard look at how our courts and tribunals
can be better modernised to meet both contemporary environmental expectation
and future challenges".
At the conference, leaders of the various research projects will present their
key findings. Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by
Sir Robert Carnwath, Lord Justice of Appeal, where the implications of the research
for environmental law reform will be considered.
The conference will provide the first opportunity to consider as a whole the implications of this research, which is likely to shape significantly the future direction of environmental law reform in Britain. It comes at a time when both the UK and the European Community are proposing to ratify the UN 1998 Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.
Elliot Morley MP, Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment today welcomed
the conference, saying: "The issues surrounding environmental law and
justice are complex and raise their own particular problems. There are no easy
solutions but I am hopeful that new expert evidence and debate will help add
clarity to the picture".
Notes to editors:
- 'Delivering environmental law in contemporary Britain' is being held today at the British Medical Association, Tavistock Square, London, WC1. To obtain copies of the presentations or to interview Professor Richard Macrory, please contact Heidi Foden, UCL Media Relations, 020 7679 7678 or h.foden@ucl.ac.uk
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