In the UK, 16 environmental activists who were sentenced to prison for various climate protests are challenging their sentences in court, claiming they are unjustifiably harsh.
The protest group Just Stop Oil argues that the sentences—ranging from 15 months to five years—are excessively punitive for what they call peaceful actions in defense of the environment and future generations.
Among the protesters are individuals who blocked traffic, disrupted an oil facility, and threw soup on a Van Gogh painting at the National Gallery. Just Stop Oil insists that their actions were political in nature, arguing they are “political prisoners” who acted out of necessity to raise awareness about climate change.
Environmental organizations like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace UK have voiced their support for the five protesters who participated in a November 2022 demonstration, which involved climbing onto portals over a busy motorway. Other protests included blocking tunnels leading to an oil terminal in southeastern England.
The appeals come after the Conservative government, which lost power in July 2024, implemented stricter anti-protest laws. These laws were introduced in response to a series of disruptive actions by climate activists, including blocking roads, gluing themselves to trains, and damaging artworks to highlight climate issues. The government claims the laws are designed to prevent economic disruptions and maintain public order.
Friends of the Earth warns that the severity of these sentences poses a significant threat to democracy, with senior lawyer Katie de Kove emphasizing that silencing activists will not solve the climate crisis but only suppress democratic expression.
The Court of Appeal hearing, which is expected to last two days, will see three judges deliberate on the case. Their decision could take several days or weeks to be announced.
