Greenpeace climate activists who scaled the chimney of the UK’s Kingsnorth coal powerstation are claiming the damage they did to the structure was justified as they were fighting climate change.

The accused – who Greenpeace is slightly distastefully calling the Kingsnorth Six –attempted to paint ‘Gordon Bin It’ on a chimney at the plant, encouraging UK PM Gordon Brown to block expansion of the Kingsnorth coal power station (various, eg BBC).

“These defendants maintain that they had a lawful excuse for damaging the chimney for the protection of other property,” says John Price, who is prosecuting the case (various, eg Guardian). “Other property, you will hear, in Kent and all around the world. Property said to be at the risk of more serious damage threatened by climate change which is caused by the substantial increase in greenhouse gases of which it is said coal-burning power stations make a large contribution.”

Of course, being the prosecution, Price maintains that they do not have a lawful excuse.

The Guardian says this is the first time such a ‘climate change defense’ has been used in court. It is not clear if an acceptance of this defense would open the way for mass vigilante attacks on SUVs.

Greenpeace is blogging from the court here.