Environmental Justice in an Age of Crisis: Holding Power to Account

Inaugural annual lecture by Sarah Finch on using environmental law to hold power to account, followed by a chaired discussion and Q&A.

The Surrey Centre for International and Environmental Law hosts its inaugural Annual Lecture, delivered by Sarah Finch, winner of the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for Europe. She led the legal challenge against Surrey County Council over oil drilling near Gatwick Airport, in which the UK Supreme Court ruled that downstream climate impacts had to be considered in the environmental impact assessment. The public lecture explores how environmental law can hold governments and powerful interests to account, strengthen democratic oversight and protect environmental rights. It is followed by a chaired discussion with Prof. Maria Lee (UCL Laws) and Robin Pierro (Environmental Law Foundation) plus audience Q&A.