In 2010, environmentalist Sarah Finch noticed a local proposal to drill for oil near her Surrey home, sparking her involvement in opposing fossil fuel projects in the region. She helped form the Weald Action Group to fight fracking and drilling plans, but despite community opposition, Surrey council approved a major oil drilling project at Horse Hill without accounting for the full climate impact of burning the extracted oil, known as scope 3 emissions. Finch led a legal challenge arguing these emissions must be considered in planning decisions, but initial courts ruled against her. However, the UK Supreme Court later accepted her case, and in a landmark 2024 ruling, it mandated that the climate effects of burning fossil fuels be included in environmental assessments, leading to the blocking of new fossil fuel projects like the Cumbria coalmine and offshore oil fields.

This ruling, known as the Finch case, has been hailed as one of the most significant environmental legal victories of the century, influencing government policy and fossil fuel project approvals. Despite ongoing threats from government attempts to overhaul environmental regulations and pressures to increase drilling amid energy shortages, Finch continues her activism, advocating for a faster transition to renewable energy. Her efforts were recognized in 2026 when she received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, underscoring her role in challenging the fossil fuel industry and pushing for a cleaner, sustainable energy future.