Speaking before the hearing, Dr Benn said: “As a doctor, my fundamental duty is to protect health and life. This includes proactive efforts to prevent disease and death.
“The climate crisis is the most significant existential threat to global health we have ever faced.
“This is why I felt compelled to address what I see as the most critical health crisis currently unfolding—one that is already causing widespread death, disease, and destruction globally and is set to worsen.”
Dr Benn said she did not take the protests and disruptions she had participated in lightly and she found no joy in causing inconvenience or distress.
But she said people “must be clear about the magnitude of the crisis we face”.
“The disruptions caused by peaceful protest are nothing compared to the catastrophic impacts of continuing to burn fossil fuels,” she said.
“I will be sad and upset if I am removed from the register, but that will have no effect on my future plans.
“I will continue carrying out what I believe is my responsibility as long as the government refuses to commit to stopping oil and gas.”
