Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, commonly shortened to Friends of the Earth or FoE EWNI, is an environmental organisation campaigning across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It forms part of the international Friends of the Earth network, which brings together national environmental groups in around 70 countries. The organisation combines public campaigning, policy advocacy, legal and community action, research, and support for locally led environmental work. The English organisation was established in 1971, two years after the first Friends of the Earth group was created in San Francisco. Graham Searle, a former vice-president of the National Union of Students, was its first leader. Early campaigns used highly visible direct action as well as conventional advocacy. One notable protest involved placing almost 1,000 glass bottles outside the London headquarters of Schweppes to challenge the company's use of non-returnable containers. Other early work opposed an open-cast copper mine in Snowdonia National Park, a campaign that achieved an early success when the proposed development was stopped. The organisation also worked on endangered species protection, contributing to the broader international movement that made whale conservation a prominent environmental issue. Energy became another foundational concern. FoE EWNI opposed nuclear power and promoted renewable energy, with early support from American energy analyst Amory Lovins. Over time, its energy work developed into a wider programme on climate change, which became the organisation's central strategic theme. Its campaigns have addressed greenhouse-gas reduction, energy policy, biodiversity, land use, pollution, environmental justice, and the influence of major businesses and governments on environmental outcomes. A defining feature of the organisation is its local-group structure. Friends of the Earth supports a network of licensed local groups that retain substantial autonomy in choosing and organising campaigns in their communities. The network expanded rapidly after the national organisation was launched, from eight local branches in its first period to approximately 140 by 1976. By 1980, it had around 250 groups and 17,000 registered supporters. Scottish groups later separated to form Friends of the Earth Scotland in 1978, leaving the EWNI organisation focused on England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The organisation experienced both contraction and expansion. During the early 1980s, the growth of the peace movement and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament diverted some public support, and Friends of the Earth reduced its staff to about 12 people. Jonathan Porritt became director in 1984. By the time he left in 1990, membership had increased substantially and staffing had grown to more than 100. Later executive directors included Dave Gee, Charles Secrett, Tony Juniper, Andy Atkins and Craig Bennett. From 2021 to July 2024, Miriam Turner and Hugh Knowles served as co-chief executives. Jamie Peters became interim chief executive in July 2024, followed by Asad Rehman in August 2025, according to the cited reference material. FoE EWNI operates through a dual organisational structure consisting of a charitable trust and Friends of the Earth Ltd. The separation reflects United Kingdom legal limits on the political campaigning that charities may undertake. The charitable side supports charitable and public-interest work, while the limited company conducts political campaigning and related activities. The organisation's work is funded through a mixture of donations, supporter contributions, grants and other charitable income. It remains a campaigning organisation rather than a commercial product brand.

Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland was founded in England in 1971, following the creation of the first Friends of the Earth organisation in San Francisco in 1969. Graham Searle, a former vice-president of the National Union of Students, was the new organisation's first leader. Its early identity was shaped by practical environmental campaigning and public protest. In one of its first high-profile actions, activists placed almost 1,000 glass bottles outside Schweppes' London headquarters to object to the company's policy of using non-returnable containers. The organisation also challenged major development proposals and campaigned to protect threatened species. Its opposition to an open-cast copper mine in Snowdonia National Park ended in an early success when the proposed mine was stopped. Work on endangered species helped connect the national group to wider international conservation campaigns, including efforts to protect whales that were also advanced by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and other environmental organisations. Safe energy was an early and continuing priority. FoE EWNI opposed nuclear power and advocated renewable energy, receiving support from American energy expert Amory Lovins. This work gradually expanded into climate-change campaigning, which became the organisation's central concern. The group has subsequently worked on emissions reduction, energy systems, environmental regulation, biodiversity, pollution, land use and the relationship between environmental harm and social justice. Local organising has remained one of its most distinctive characteristics. Friends of the Earth developed a network of licensed local groups with considerable independence to decide which issues to pursue in their areas. There were eight local branches soon after the organisation began and approximately 140 by 1976. By 1980, the network had grown to around 250 groups and 17,000 registered supporters. Groups in Scotland separated in 1978 to form Friends of the Earth Scotland, leaving the EWNI body responsible for work in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The organisation's support and staffing changed with the broader political environment. Between 1980 and 1984, the growth of the peace movement and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament drew some support away from Friends of the Earth, contributing to a reduction in staff to about 12. Jonathan Porritt became director in 1984. His tenure was followed by a substantial expansion: when he left in 1990, membership had reached approximately 226,000 and staffing had risen from 12 to more than 100. Dave Gee subsequently served as executive director, followed by Charles Secrett, who held the role until 2003. Tony Juniper led the organisation from 2003 to 2008. During this period, Friends of the Earth played a prominent role in The Big Ask campaign, which sought a United Kingdom law requiring long-term action on climate change. The campaign contributed to the political momentum behind the Climate Change Act enacted in 2008. Andy Atkins was executive director from 2008 to 2015 and broadened the organisation's work to include additional biodiversity concerns. Campaigning associated with pollinator protection helped lead to the establishment of a National Pollinator Strategy. Craig Bennett served as chief executive from 2015 to 2020. He later left to become director of the Wildlife Trusts. From January 2021 through July 2024, the organisation was led by co-chief executives Miriam Turner and Hugh Knowles. Jamie Peters became interim chief executive in July 2024, and Asad Rehman took up the chief executive position in August 2025. FoE EWNI uses a dual structure. A registered charitable trust undertakes charitable work, while Friends of the Earth Ltd carries out political campaigning within the limits of United Kingdom charity law. This arrangement allows the organisation to combine public-benefit environmental activity with campaigning directed at government policy, business conduct and environmental regulation. It remains part of the wider Friends of the Earth network while relying on a locally distributed model of environmental action.

• 2025

  Asad Rehman becomes chief executive

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  Asad Rehman took up the chief executive position in August 2025.

• 2024

  Interim chief executive appointed

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  Jamie Peters became interim chief executive in July 2024.

• 2021

  Co-chief executive leadership begins

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  Miriam Turner and Hugh Knowles began serving as co-chief executives.

• 2008

  UK Climate Change Act becomes law

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  The Big Ask campaign, led by Friends of the Earth and conducted from 2006 to 2008, contributed to the passage of the UK Climate Change Act.

• 1990

  Membership and staffing expand substantially

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  By the end of Jonathan Porritt's tenure, membership had grown to approximately 226,000 and staff numbers exceeded 100.

• 1984

  Jonathan Porritt becomes director

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  Jonathan Porritt took over as director during a period when the organisation was rebuilding after early-1980s contraction.

• 1978

  Friends of the Earth Scotland separates

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  Scottish groups split from the organisation and formed Friends of the Earth Scotland.

• 1976

  Local-group network reaches approximately 140 branches

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  The organisation's locally based structure expanded rapidly across the United Kingdom.

• 1971

  English Friends of the Earth organisation founded

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  Friends of the Earth was established in England, with Graham Searle as its first leader.

• 1969

  Friends of the Earth network begins

  [1]Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org

  The first Friends of the Earth group was established in San Francisco, providing the international context for the later English organisation.

A campaigning, community-based environmental organisation that combines local activism with national policy advocacy and participation in the international Friends of the Earth network.

• 2006The Big Ask

  United Kingdom

  The Big Ask campaign called for legally binding UK climate targets and sustained government action to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

  Outcome. The campaign helped build support for the Climate Change Act, which became law in 2008.

  Source
• 1971Returnable bottles protest

  United Kingdom

  Friends of the Earth placed nearly 1,000 glass bottles outside Schweppes' London headquarters to protest the use of non-returnable bottles and draw attention to waste and packaging policy.

  Outcome. Early public demonstration of the organisation's direct-action campaigning style.

  Source
• Snowdonia copper mine opposition

  Wales

  The organisation opposed an open-cast copper mine proposed within Snowdonia National Park.

  Outcome. The proposed mine was stopped.

  Source
• Save the Whale

  United Kingdom · International

  Friends of the Earth worked on endangered-species protection that developed into broader international whale-conservation campaigning alongside Greenpeace and other groups.

  Outcome. Helped connect the organisation's national conservation work with an international environmental campaign.

  Source
• Safe energy and renewable energy campaigning

  United Kingdom

  FoE EWNI opposed nuclear power and promoted renewable energy, establishing an energy-policy platform that later developed into its climate-change work.

  Outcome. Climate change became the organisation's central campaigning theme.

  Source
• National Pollinator Strategy campaign

  United Kingdom

  Friends of the Earth broadened its biodiversity work and campaigned for stronger protection of pollinators and their habitats.

  Outcome. The establishment of a National Pollinator Strategy was identified as a key campaign highlight.

  Source

• 2008

  Broaden campaign scope toward biodiversityStrategy

  Background

  Under Andy Atkins, the organisation expanded beyond climate and energy issues to place greater emphasis on biodiversity and ecosystem protection.

  Action taken

  Friends of the Earth increased campaigning on biodiversity, including work supporting a National Pollinator Strategy.

  Aftermath

  Pollinator protection became a prominent part of the organisation's environmental agenda.

  Source

• 2006

  Make a legally binding climate law a central campaign objectiveStrategy

  Background

  Friends of the Earth sought to convert longstanding safe-energy and climate advocacy into a statutory national framework for emissions reduction.

  Action taken

  It organised The Big Ask campaign for legally binding UK climate targets and government action.

  Aftermath

  The campaign contributed to the political momentum behind the UK Climate Change Act, enacted in 2008.

  Source

1. 1Friends of the Earth (EWNI)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Irelandfriendsoftheearth.uk