Erosion victim challenges government's climate plan

A man who lost his home to coastal erosion is challenging the government in the High Court over its climate plans.

Kevin Jordan lived in Hemsby, Norfolk, but his home was demolished in December after storms put it in severe danger of falling into the sea.

He has joined forces with Friends of the Earth and disability activist Doug Paulley to claim that the government's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) on climate change is putting lives, homes and livelihoods at risk.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) is opposing the legal challenge at the two-day hearing in London.

The claimants are arguing the current climate plan breaches the human rights of the individual claimants, and those of marginalised groups such as older and disabled people and people living in areas most at risk from climate change.

Mr Paulley, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, has several health conditions which can be exacerbated by increasing summer temperatures, and therefore he is at greater risk of harm, the complainants said.

They argue those people are disproportionately affected by the impacts of the climate crisis, and the government has failed to produce a credible or lawful plan to protect them.

David Wolfe KC, representing the claimants, told the court there was no detailed plan for the effects of climate change.

In written arguments he said: "How the defendant responds to these climate risks has far-reaching consequences for society, including the safety of at-risk individuals from harm.

"Unfortunately, climate change is predicted to worsen for the foreseeable future."

The barrister said the NAP, which is required every five years under the 2008 Climate Change Act, perpetuated ministers' "history of failure in climate adaptation" and should be quashed and rewritten.

Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, for Defra, said in written arguments that the campaigners' case was based on "fundamental factual errors" and was an "unfair characterisation" of the approach taken by ministers.

Mr Jordan retired to Hemsby 14 years ago and was told by experts at the time that the coastline by his house had another 80-100 years before erosion would threaten it.

Speaking ahead of the hearing, he told the BBC: "Over [those] 14 years, storms and bad weather seemed to keep increasing in frequency."

He said he "lost everything" when his home was demolished and he wants changes in climate change plans to protect others.

"We want greater protection and adaptation of policies for people still at risk. My battle is over but I'm still in the fight. I want better policies to cover areas like mine," he said.

A Defra spokesperson said: “The climate and nature crises are the greatest long-term global challenge we face as a nation.

“As we transition to become a clean-energy economy and stride towards net zero, we must also take robust action to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate.

“This government will ensure that the UK is prepared for these changes by strengthening resilience across government and local communities."

Improving infrastructure, better flood protections and planting millions of trees are included in government plans, the spokesperson said.

The hearing is due to end on Wednesday, with a ruling expected at a later date.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.