Tughans are acting for No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland as they take their case against Fossil Fuel Development at Larne Lough to the High Court in Belfast in a landmark case for Northern Ireland.

 

The courts will be asked to come to a decision over the implications of climate change in a judicial review set to last for 4 days.

 

No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland are seeking to overturn the decision of former Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) minister Edwin Poots who authorised the construction of a gas storage facility under the seabed at Larne Lough. The plans involve carving seven underground caverns by a method known as solution mining. Its development would keep Northern Ireland “locked in” to using fossil fuels for decades beyond a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the High Court was told.

 

The  campaign groups will argue that the proposal should have been referred to the Executive on account of it being both significant and  controversial.  They are calling for accountability and transparency and point to the long lasting impact on the local environment and climate change goals.

 

Tughans team is led by consultant, Maria O’Loan, Head of Environment and Planning.  Conor Fegan of Francis Taylor Building is instructed.