Sarah Finch led a tireless campaign against oil drilling near her home, persevering through five years of escalating court battles until she secured a Supreme Court ruling in June 2024 that finally forced its shutdown. The “Finch ruling,” which states that authorities must consider the impact fossil fuels will have on the global climate before granting permission to extract them, has since stalled or stopped many larger fossil fuel projects and other industrial developments across the UK. As the first victory of its kind in Europe, the Finch ruling has attracted international attention and could have lasting reverberations in the fight against climate change in the UK and beyond.

Photo credit: Goldman Environmental Prize