A Norfolk man who lost his home to coastal erosion is "extremely disappointed" after his attempt to legally challenge the government on its climate change plans was dismissed.
Kevin Jordan was made homeless just before Christmas 2023 when his home in Hemsby was demolished due to the high chance it would fall into the sea.
Mr Jordan teamed up with disability activist Doug Paulley and environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth to challenge the former Conservative government’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) at a hearing earlier this year.
The NAP was intended to outline the government's response to the risks posed by climate change - but the campaigners argued it was "deficient" as it failed to properly respond to 61 climate change risks.
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They especially said it did not consider the threat of coastal flooding on communities, the health risks posed by rising temperatures, erosion, extreme weather events and the issues climate change could cause for forestry and farming.
But on Friday, Mr Justice Chamberlain dismissed their claims, stating there was no “error of law” within the government's plans.
Mr Jordan said it was "an extremely disappointing judgment".
“Without a tougher set of Government policies to protect us, more people will face the horror of seeing their homes, lives and livelihoods threatened by the growing impacts of our rapidly changing climate," he said.
“It’s bad enough that communities like mine have already lost so much through the lack of foresight and planning for the foreseeable effects of climate breakdown.
“I don’t want anyone else to endure what we’ve been through. But many undoubtedly will, unless the Government strengthens its adaptation plans.”
Will Rundle, head of legal at Friends of the Earth, described the NAP as "hopelessly inadequate" but said that they would “study the detail” of the judgment before deciding whether to bid to appeal.
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