MORE than 140 prominent lawyers signed a declaration today highlighting their concern that the climate crisis poses an “existential risk to humanity and the rule of law.”

The signatories to the Declaration of Conscience, launched at a demonstration outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, say they will withdraw their legal services from new fossil fuel projects and criminal or civil action against climate protesters.

Between 2017 and 2022 the legal sector globally supported at least $1.62 trillion (£1.3trn) worth of transactions for the fossil fuel industry, according to the Carbon Tracker platform.

And according to the 2022 Law Firm Climate Change Scorecard by the Law Students for Climate Accountability, London’s law firms support at least 15 per cent of global emissions.

This is despite the scientific consensus that breaching the 1.5°C temperature limit established by the Paris Agreement of 2015 will cause massive loss of life and catastrophic harm to the health of millions of people worldwide.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change also issued a “final warning” report this month, emphasising that there is a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all and that new fossil fuel supply projects would be inconsistent with the 1.5˚C global temperature limit.

Barrister Jodie Blackstock said she had signed the declaration because “humanity has reached a point from which there is no return.

“Colleagues brokering these deals need to be aware of the consequences,” Ms Blackstock said.

“The rule of law promotes and protects the rights of the marginalised.

“It is subverted when those causing the harm go unchallenged but those raising the alarm are criminalised.”