We just won a landmark case to protect one of Europe’s most important marine sanctuaries: the Dogger Bank. 💫
The court ruling sets a precedent for governments across Europe and sends a clear message: protected must mean protected.
How it went:
The Netherlands still allow destructive bottom trawling to continue in the Dutch section of the Dogger Bank - a key nursery and Natura 2000 recovery area for fish stocks. But without healthy fish stocks there is no fishing.
EU law is clear: governments must protect sensitive areas from destructive human activities.
Yet Dutch bottom trawlers are still allowed to fish there, even without permit, and that is unlawful.
So, we’ve taken the Dutch government to court - and won.
For the first time in Europe, the judges have confirmed that governments are responsible for properly regulating the impact of bottom trawling on Marine Protected Areas.
We’re demanding full closure of the area to bottom trawling to give this ecosystem a real chance to recover. This will support small-scale and low-impact fishing on the long term.
Keep supporting our legal fight for an ocean full of life.
In the current state of the world, this win hits differently.
As you read this, powerful polluting industries and their political allies are working to dismantle Europe’s environmental protections - the very laws that guarantee you get access to clean drinking water, safe food, fresh air, and healthy nature. Their recklessness fuels pollution linked to cancer, respiratory diseases, and other serious health risks.
When representatives choose the interests of a few polluters over the wellbeing of entire communities, people suffer, are displaced, lose their income and roots. But this time, a group of Spanish residents has reminded Europe what, and who, the law is actually meant to protect.
Clean water comes first.
Fresh air comes first.
The dignity of local communities comes first.
And they proved it by using the very laws that are now under attack.
This victory is not just about one community in Spain. It’s about whether Europe – and the world – allows polluters to rewrite the laws that protect us.
That’s why tens of thousands of people are speaking out to defend Europe’s nature laws before it’s too late.
Join them – and tell decision-makers: hands off nature.
Comment NATURE to get the petition link⬇️
😠New Zealand is planning to change its law to limit climate lawsuits😠
“New Zealand is respected the world over for its democratic institutions and rule of law – and for its clean and green image.
"But the Government’s proposed amendments to limit climate change claims risk undermining both.
"The International Court of Justice has affirmed that states have a legal obligation to address climate harm, and people must be able to test those obligations in court. Restricting access to courts is bad for justice, bad for the environment, and bad for democracy and the rule of law." Laura Clarke OBE, ClientEarth CEO
The sea is not a factory, but it's exploited like one. We're going to court to protect it.
Philippe Garcia is a former engineer in the aerospace sector, who resumed his studies to branch off into medicine. He practiced for a dozen years as a surgical doctor. Then, at the age of 50, he decided to turn his life upside down once again.
He left medicine to devote himself to the defense of aquatic environments, "because our lives depend on it!"
Every year in France, tens of thousands of endangered and protected species are caught by mistake in fishing gear. They are then discarded into the ocean.
But this hidden tragedy can be prevented.
That's why, with Sea Shepherd France and Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, we are taking France to court to make sure unselective fishing doesn't harm protected species.
The government is in breach of multiple EU laws, including the Birds and Habitats Directives.
These laws are essential to ensure fisheries’ low-impact and sustainability on the long term, while protecting marine wildlife.
France is not the only one with a bycatch problem: the EU Commission currently has infringement procedures open against several EU countries for failing to tackle bycatch of species like puffins, dolphins, whales.
We are taking legal action to ensure that:
- Governments have concrete plans to reduce this threat
- Data gets collected so we know the true scale of bycatch
- Laws aimed at monitoring bycatch and protecting marine mammals and seabirds are enforced.
If you care about marine life, click the link in bio and add your name for an end to seabird bycatch.
Is yout favourite fashion brand 's leather clean?
A new EU law could make it easier to prove if leather is deforestation-free and legal - but a well-resourced industry group is pushing hard to keep leather's supply chain in the shadows.
What can you do?
A EU public consultation on leather is open until 1 June. It's a chance for fashion brands to express why sustainable, deforestation-free leather matters.
T@g them to let them know!
Drop “LEATHER” in the comments to get the link to the public consultation and submit your response.
Dear Fashion Brands, if you are not part of this conversation, it will be assumed that you do not care. But your customers do.
Very few people can change how the whole world sees something. Because of David Attenborough, millions of us can see that the natural world isn't just beautiful, it's essential to all life on Earth.
His commitment to the planet - and to communicating about it to all of us has been unwavering.
On his 100th birthday, the best way to honour that is simple: act to protect it.
Happy birthday Sir David Attenborough. And thank you for all that you have done for our planet.
⚖️Legal action alert⚖️
Consumer goods giant Unilever is the subject of a complaint by Filipino communities, on account of the enormous pollution in the country caused by the company's non-recyclable plastic sachets.
This is a landmark pollution complaint before the Pollution Adjudication Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Philippines.
The sachets are overwhelming waterways and causing numerous harms, including flooding and health risks for fisherfolk and waste-workers.
Filipino communities are demanding reparations, administrative fines for Unilever, and an immediate cease-and-desist order.
🏭Big corporations are all too often causing devastating pollution like this through their business practices, and should be held to account.
📢Big news📢
Progress is being made in translating last year's ICJ decision on climate change into real, political action 🦾
On Friday Vanuatu announced a resolution from the UN General Assembly, which was a follow-up to the International Court of Justice's landmark Opinion that States must act now to avoid climate catastrophe.
The draft resolution urges countries to limit global warming to 1.5C through:
✅Tripling renewable energy capacity
✅Scaling up energy efficiency
✅Accelerating a just phase-out of fossil fuels
✅Addressing inefficient fossil fuel subsidies
The UNGA is expected to vote on the resolution by 20th May.
Stories for more. #ClimateJusticeAtTheICJ
🌎 The world's first ever conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels concluded yesterday in #SantaMarta, Colombia with a clear message:
📢 Countries calling for a fossil fuel phase-out are no longer fringe, they are the future. 📢
A hopeful example of collaboration and multilateralism, the conference saw participation from 58 States, as well as the beginnings of individual fossil fuel phase-out roadmaps for some.
The case for action – in terms of the science, economics and law – has never been clearer.
💥 Last chance 💥
Right now, governments are falling short on their duty to protect the ocean from harmful exploitation.
But we're taking legal action every day to keep it safe from damaging bottom trawling, plastic pollution and oil drilling.
And you can help: you have until 9pm tonight to donate and your gift will be matched, doubling your impact. Link in bio.
Noise pollution from oil and gas drilling is seriously threatening marine wildlife.
Whales especially, use sound for so much of their survival: to communicate, navigate, find food and avoid danger.
Imagine trying to shout across a busy stadium to someone – it becomes impossible for them to hear anything.
New research by world-renowned marine biologists proves underwater noise is causing harm to these animals.
Despite this, harmful new drilling projects are being approved in Greece – even next to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which should be – you guessed it – protected.
We’re working on 16 ocean cases right now to make sure that “protected” means protected. Follow for more.
The deadly truth? Exploitation is destroying our ocean.
But it doesn't have to. We know what can stop this.
Legal action can. We are fighting for a healthy ocean with 16 active cases around the world, and we're researching more.
Now is the time. The ocean cannot wait.
Become a regular giver today and help power the legal fight for ocean protection 💙 Link in bio.
