Update

Tony Juniper at the Guernsey Literary Festival – Highlights from a Thought-Provoking Discussion

As part of the 2025 Guernsey Literary Festival, Mourant Consulting had the privilege of welcoming Tony Juniper CBE – one of the UK’s leading voices on nature conservation and environmental policy. In a compelling conversation with Sally Rochester, Tony explored the central theme of his latest book, Just Earth, which argues that environmental progress cannot be achieved without social justice. Read on for the key messages that emerged from this inspiring session.

Sally Rochester of Mourant Consulting was delighted to host Tony Juniper CBE at a recent Guernsey Literary Festival event.

Tony Juniper's latest book, Just Earth: How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet, offers a compelling examination of the intertwined nature of environmental crises and social inequality. Tony, chair of Natural England & life long advocate for nature conservation, shared some of the critical issues he uncovered through research for the book and then went on to offer solutions to the complex challenges that climate change, the degradation of the natural world and social inequality present.

During their conversation we identified the following key takeaways:

• We need to reconnect with nature to value its contribution to our lives – we are so removed from nature with our modern lifestyles that is no wonder we don't consider the cost and impact to nature, along with the critical services it provides to us in terms of clean air, clean water and food.
• Inequality and the Environment Are Inseparable - Tony argued that environmental degradation are tightly bound to economic and social inequality and highlighted that the richest 1% produce far more emissions than the poorest 50%, yet those most vulnerable bear the worst consequences.
• Justice is essential - Environmental action must integrate fairness, human rights, and distributional justice. Looking to indigenous communities for guidance on how that justice might be delivered is worthwhile.
• The Transition Must Be Equitable – Politic ambition will be derailed if we cannot ensure a just transition and that means within communities and across the globe. Poorer countries and communities require financial support and technology transfer from wealthier nations.
• Policy & Co-ordination are key – to tackle these interlinked issues we must start to encourage bold, joined-up policy-making backed by public support. 

Tony ended the session by calling for all sectors of our community to call for systemic change which puts human and planetary wellbeing at the heert of the decision we make. Moving away from GDP and economic growth to living lives within plantery limits. Reduction in consumption, policy making for regeneration of nature and climate and ensuring social equality and equal opportunity will be critical to future generations.

Tony Juniper’s message was both urgent and hopeful: that a healthier, fairer world is within reach if we are prepared to rethink our priorities and take collective action. His call for integrated solutions that place environmental regeneration and social justice at the centre of decision-making resonated strongly with the audience. At Mourant, we are proud to support conversations that challenge conventional thinking and encourage meaningful change, for the benefit of people, communities, and the planet. 

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