Government Faces Deadline to Unveil New Climate Strategy by October

The UK Government has been handed a legal deadline to unveil a fresh climate strategy by Wednesday, 29 October 2025, setting out the precise policies required to meet near-term carbon reduction targets through the 2030s. The ruling, issued today (25 March) by the High Court, marks yet another legal setback for the Government’s climate agenda, as its previous carbon delivery plan has been deemed unlawful.

This is not the first time the UK’s climate strategy has faced legal scrutiny. In May 2024, the High Court struck down the Government’s existing climate plan, citing its heavy reliance on unproven technologies and a lack of transparent, concrete steps toward net zero by 2050.

That ruling followed an earlier legal battle in 2022, when Friends of the Earth, ClientEarth, and the Good Law Project took the Government to court over what they argued was an inadequate roadmap to net zero. The court sided with the environmental groups, concluding that the Government had breached the Climate Change Act 2008 (CCA) by failing to provide a legally compliant emissions reduction plan. The result? A revised strategy—the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan—was published in Spring 2023.

Yet, even that update has failed to satisfy legal requirements. Initially, the High Court set a May 2024 deadline for a further revision. However, after discussions with Friends of the Earth and ClientEarth, the court has granted an extension, setting the final deadline for October 2025.

Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at Friends of the Earth, said:  “Action on climate change isn’t just good for the planet, it’s a win for our economy and public health too. It’s also vital if we’re to safeguard the future for young people and generations to come.

“Crucially, however, the climate plan due later this year must both meet climate targets and improve people’s quality of life – we know that public support depends on it. That’s why the plan must be designed in a way that’s bold, transformative and fair. As well as helping to prevent runaway climate breakdown and huge economic costs being stored up for the future, this will ensure everyone benefits from the transition to a low carbon future.”

The upcoming climate plan must outline clear, actionable policies to meet the Sixth Carbon Budget up to 2037. Notably, the Government’s new plan will not be required to address the Seventh Carbon Budget (2042)—despite recent recommendations from the Climate Change Committee on how to structure it.

Adding further controversy, the Conservative Party has signalled an intention to abandon the UK’s legally binding 2050 net-zero target, calling it “impossible” and “catastrophic” for the economy. This stance starkly contrasts economic data showing that the UK’s net-zero sector is expanding three times faster than the overall economy, contributing a staggering £83.1 billion in gross value added (GVA) in 2024 alone.