PODCAST · business
Climate Law Matters
by 39 Essex Chambers
39 Essex Chambers' barristers investigate the key legal developments, across both public and private law, in addressing the most pressing challenge of our generation, climate change. Through this podcast, they interview leaders in their fields, and across a range of sectors, to understand (i) the key developments as they see them and (ii) the role for litigation and regulation in those developments, including any legal barriers.The team includes Steph David, Flora Curtis, Celia Reynolds, Chris Moss, Ella Grodzinski, and Alex Burrell, and has expertise across the breadth of Chambers’ specialisms.
Episodes
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Episode 31: Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation – 2026 Snapshot Report
A dive into the key trends and evolutions in global climate litigation, as set out in the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment's recent report, Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2026 Snapshot. 39 Essex Chambers' barrister Ella Grodzinski talks to Catherine...
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Episode 30: Climate Attribution in Litigation: Interview with Dr Matt Ösund-Ireland
39 Essex Chambers’ barrister Christopher Moss discusses climate attribution and the role it plays in litigation with Dr Matt Ösund-Ireland a partner at HKA with over 30 years’ of experience and a member of the Institution of Environmental Scientists and the Institution of Air Quality Management.…
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Episode 29: The Government’s Drive for Green Energy and its Legal Implications
In this episode, Matthew McFeeley, a partner at Richard Buxton Solicitors discusses the legal implications of the Government’s drive for green energy with Celia Reynolds, a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers specialising in public and environmental law. Matthew and Celia discuss the changes…
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Episode 28: Reducing Emissions from Aviation
At the global level, it is estimated that aviation accounts for 2.4% of annual anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and 4% of anthropogenic global heating up to 2021. As the sector continues to grow, those impacts will increase, and by 2050, aviation could be responsible for around 22% of CO₂ emissions...
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Episode 27: Ecosystem Collapse and the UK's National Security
In the first episode of 2026, Ruth Chambers, Senior Fellow at Green Alliance returns to discuss the UK Government’s assessment of global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse with Flora Curtis, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers. Published in January following an initially unsuccessful freedom of...
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Episode 26: 2025 Caselaw Roundup
In this special end-of-year episode, 39 Essex Chambers' barrister Ella Grodzinski and Anna Tranter of Irwin Mitchell look back at the key climate caselaw developments of the year. Costs & Aarhus protections: R (Badger Trust and Wild Justice) v Natural England [2025] EWHC 2761 (Admin) Green Lane...
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Episode 25: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Interview with Dr Diana Casey
39 Essex Chambers' barrister Christopher Moss discusses the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (“UK ETS”) with Dr Diana Casey, the Executive Director of Energy and Climate change at the Mineral Products Association, a board member of the Emissions Trading Group, and chair of the Emissions Trading System...
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Episode 24: The Challenges and Opportunities of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage: Interview with Professor Paul Fennell
39 Essex Chambers' barrister Celia Reynolds talks to Professor Paul Fennell, professor of clean energy at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. His work encompasses the decarbonisation and re-thinking of industrial processes, including the production of iron and steel…
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Episode 23: The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: Interview with Nikki Reisch and Lucy Maxwell
39 Essex Chambers' barrister Flora Curtis talks to Nikki Reisch, Director of the Climate and Energy Programme at the Center for International Environmental Law, and Lucy Maxwell, Co-Director of the Climate Litigation Network, about the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change handed down on 23 July...
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Episode 22: The transition from oil and gas: Interview with Tessa Khan, Uplift
Tessa Khan is the Executive Director at Uplift, a climate action organisation that supports efforts to transition rapidly and fairly away from oil and gas production in the UK. In this episode, she discusses a number of different legal developments to facilitate that transition, including the...
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Episode 21: Role of the energy regulator in achieving a net zero future: Interview with Sinead Murray
39 Essex Chambers' barrister Steph David talks with Sinead Murray, General Counsel of Ofgem, who explains the key and expanding role that Ofgem plays in driving the transition to a net zero future in the energy sector. She explains Ofgem’s role in administering various schemes to incentivise a...
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Episode 20: A holistic way of considering transition and climate risk: Interview with Peter Carter
Peter Carter discusses how businesses should be thinking about, and approaching, climate risk and building resilience into their business models. He explains the necessity of an holistic approach, considering not only the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but also approaching climate risks…
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Episode 19: Interview with Sarah Finch – The campaigner behind the most significant climate case of this century so far (Part 2)
In this episode, Sarah Finch, behind the groundbreaking Supreme Court case in R (Finch) v Surrey County Council [2024] P.T.S.R. 988, talks about the immediate effects of the judgment for fossil fuel development elsewhere in the country before considering the wider impacts on other sectors. She…
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Episode 18: Interview with Sarah Finch – The campaigner behind the most significant climate case of this century so far (Part 1)
On 20 June 2024, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in R (Finch) v Surrey County Council [2024] P.T.S.R. 988 in which the majority found that the grant of planning permission for oil production in Horse Hill, Surrey, was unlawful, because the environmental impact assessment had not…
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Episode 17: Interview with Catherine Dobson – The UK’s Net Zero plans are declared unlawful, again
On 3 May 2024, the UK’s plan to meet the Sixth Carbon Budget set under the Climate Change Act 2008 (‘CCA 2008’) was declared unlawful for the second time by the High Court J in R (Friends of the Earth & Oths) v Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero [2024] EWHC 995 (Admin). In this...
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Episode 16: Interview with Ruth Chambers – Environmental Improvement at a crossroads
Ruth Chambers, Senior Fellow at Green Alliance, discusses the Office for Environmental Protection’s recent annual statutory report, published on 18 January 2023, and shares her views, more generally, on the role and effectiveness of the Environment Act 2021 in achieving its goals in relation to…
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Episode 15: Interview with Alex Lee – The precautionary principle from the perspective of a scientist – Part 2
Dr Alex Lee delves further into the role of the precautionary principle in the context of climate modelling to assess resilience – essential in adapting to climate change. He considers the case study of landfill sites and caps; and how their vulnerability to climate change should be analysed.…
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Episode 14: Interview with Alex Lee – The precautionary principle from the perspective of a scientist – Part 1
Climate modelling is growing in importance in disputes, such as investor state disputes concerned with climate attribution. Dr Alex Lee, Chartered Geologist and Scientist, head of the environmental and climate change team at HKA, explains how climate modelling works and sets out his experience...
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Episode 13: Interview with Elsie Blackshaw-Crosby – Lifescape Project and the Biomass Strategy
The Lifescape Project is concerned with creating a world rich in wild landscapes through a multi-disciplinary approach. Elsie Blackshaw-Crosby, Managing Lawyer at the charity, discusses her journey and how she ended up working with the project before setting out, in more detail, how the charity...
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Episode 12: Interview with Paul Redington – The Unintended Consequences of Solar: an Insurer's Perspective
Whilst recognising the importance of renewable energy sources, Paul Redington, regional major loss property claims manager at Zurich, emphasises the need to be aware of the risks associated with sustainable energy source; and consider how they should be managed and mitigated. In this episode…
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Episode 11: Interview with Rachel O’Connor – Insect protein for animal feed
Whilst there has been a shift in the UK to less meat and dairy consumption, globally the amount consumed is only likely increase. A significant proportion of animal feed is soya, which is imported from South America. Rachel O’Connor explains why using insect protein as animal feed makes sense…
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Episode 10: Interview with David Rouch - Investing for Sustainability Impact - Part 2
In the last episode, David Rouch provided an overview of a report that he co-authored, entitled “A Legal Framework For Impact: Sustainability Impact in Investor Decision-making” – a report commissioned by UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, Principles for Responsible Investment and The...
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Episode 9: Interview with David Rouch - Investing for Sustainability Impact - Part 1
David Rouch is a financial services partner at Freshfields with expertise in sustainable investing. He is the author of the “Social Licence For Financial Markets: Reaching For The End And Why It Counts” (Palgrave Macmillan 2020), as well as the co-author of “A Legal Framework For Impact:...
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Episode 8: Interview with Kate Tandy – Office for Environmental Protection
Kate Tandy is the Head of Litigation and Casework at the Office for Environmental Protection (“OEP”). In this episode, Kate explains what the OEP is and how it prioritises its work, particularly given the multiple environmental crises from climate change, to poor air quality, to the biodiversity...
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Episode 7: Interview with Dr Anna McClean – Part 2 – Deep Geothermal Energy
Dr McClean continues her interview with Steph David. In this episode, Dr McClean discusses deep geothermal energy and how it is regulated, including both the environmental and financial risks associated with this form of energy. She considers the extent to which the Government currently relies on...
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Episode 6: Interview with Dr Anna McClean – Part 1 – Geothermal Energy
Dr McClean is an expert in the regulation of geothermal energy. She is a lecturer at the University of Newcastle and a researcher on a geothermal energy heating project. In this episode, she shares her views on the potential of geothermal energy in the UK as a reliable source of renewable energy,...
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Episode 5: Interview with Professor Sir Dieter Helm – Energy trilemma, energy security plan and carbon leakage risk
Professor Sir Dieter Helm is a Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford and Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford. From 2012 to 2020, he was the Independent Chair of the Natural Capital Committee, providing advice to the government on the sustainable use of natural capital.…
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Episode 4: Interview with Stephen Tromans KC – Part 4 – Public trust doctrine, the future of public interest climate change litigation and expert analysis
In mid-February, Lang J granted permission to proceed to the Marine Conservation Society, Richard Haward’s Oysters and Hugo Tagholm in their challenge to the Storm Overflows Reduction Plan, which, it is contended, will allow untreated sewage into water bodies. One of the grounds of challenge is...
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Episode 3: Interview with Stephen Tromans KC – Part 3 – Principles of sustainable development and the precautionary principle
Sustainable development and the precautionary principle are seen as important principles in improving environmental standards. In this episode, Stephen Tromans KC and Steph David discuss the extent to which these principles can be deployed in public interest judicial reviews to achieve climate...
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Episode 2: Interview with Stephen Tromans KC – Part 2 – Environmental judicial reviews and the role of the Paris Agreement
By the Aarhus Convention, the state parties recognised the importance of citizens having access to environmental information and access to environmental justice. Indeed, public interest judicial reviews brought by individuals and campaigning organisations are fundamental to upholding…
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Episode 1: Interview with Stephen Tromans KC – Part 1 – Net Zero Strategy 2.0
Last year, the Net Zero Plan was found to be unlawful by Holgate J. On 30 March 2023, what has been dubbed “Green day”, the Government published its Net Zero Growth Plan alongside a suite of policy documents and consultations. In this episode, Stephen Tromans KC and Steph David discuss the Net…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
39 Essex Chambers' barristers investigate the key legal developments, across both public and private law, in addressing the most pressing challenge of our generation, climate change. Through this podcast, they interview leaders in their fields, and across a range of sectors, to understand (i) the key developments as they see them and (ii) the role for litigation and regulation in those developments, including any legal barriers.The team includes Steph David, Flora Curtis, Celia Reynolds, Chris Moss, Ella Grodzinski, and Alex Burrell, and has expertise across the breadth of Chambers’ specialisms.
HOSTED BY
39 Essex Chambers
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Climate Law Matters have?
Climate Law Matters currently has 31 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Climate Law Matters about?
39 Essex Chambers' barristers investigate the key legal developments, across both public and private law, in addressing the most pressing challenge of our generation, climate change. Through this podcast, they interview leaders in their fields, and across a range of sectors, to understand (i) the...
How often does Climate Law Matters release new episodes?
Climate Law Matters has 31 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts Climate Law Matters?
Climate Law Matters is created and hosted by 39 Essex Chambers.
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