UKELA explains environmental law in plain English

A website dedicated to explaining UK environmental law in simple terms and to providing examples of community groups successfully using the law to protect their local environments has been unveiled by the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA).

The “Law and Your Environment” website has been a long-standing ambition of UKELA's and has been produced by academics at Cardiff University's centre for business relationships, accountability, sustainability and society. The primary goal of the website is to improve public understanding of environmental rights.

Speaking at the launch, WSP associate director and UKELA council member Tim Clare said that while “paying corporate clients” have an easy time accessing environment-related legal advice, the same cannot be said for the public. The “Law and Your Environment” website is designed to be a practical tool for use by individuals and community groups.

Also speaking at the launch, Maria Adebowale of environmental justice organisation Capacity Global, said she hopes UKELA's new initiative will empower community activists to chip away at the significant disparities in environmental quality of life that exist in the UK. “It is not acceptable that the UK's most disadvantaged communities live in our worst local environments,” she said.

Speaking with Environment Analyst, WSP's Mr Clare remarked that he would like to see more environmental consultants take out individual membership with UKELA. “UKELA is an organisation for everyone with an interest in environmental law, not just environmental lawyers. Consultants are often working at the coal face of environmental law.”

• Law and Your Environment
• News release