Five Insulate Britain activists have been jailed today after breaching an injunction by protesting on the M25 last year.
The group caused travel chaos by blocking major roads and junctions last Autumn and were all charged with contempt of court.
Four of those jailed today had glued themselves to the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice in defiance of the proceedings.
Today, Theresa Norton, 63, Dr Diana Warner, 62, El Litten, 35, and Steve Pritchard, 62, were jailed for between 24 and 42 days.
The fifth protester Ben Taylor, 27, was jailed for 32 days.
Some 11 others have also received suspended prison sentences after taking part in demonstrations between different junctions of the motorway on October 29.
National Highways, the organisation that manages England's major roads, brought contempt of court proceedings against protesters accusing them of breaking an injunction granted in September aimed at curbing Insulate Britain's road blockades.
Parish councillor Pritchard told the judge today: "This case is no longer about my contempt of court. It is now about this court's contempt of the climate.
"No Government supports peaceful protest unless it is in another country. I anticipate an irresponsible ruling in support of business as usual.
"The only antidote to my despair is disruptive, non-violent protest."
He added: "My whole adult life I've tried to make the world a better place.
"Such efforts by the conscientious are insignificant to even scratch the surface of climate catastrophe.
"Clearly, we are not a rational species. If we were rational, climate heating would have been solved decades ago.
"I have a friend who cannot sleep at night because he is so cold and he cannot afford to hear his uninsulated flat."
Pritchard - who has been arrested 13 times - also claimed enforcement officers told him they agreed with the cause.
In court today, Scarborough Labour Councillor Norton apologised for the people who were "temporarily detained" and "inconvenienced" by the direct action, but said: "Would I do it again? Absolutely. I joined the Insulate Britain campaign because I've had enough."
She said she also vowed to "continue to fight for climate justice".
Announcing the court's ruling, Mr Justice William Davis said he and Mr Justice Johnson were not reviewing the injunction.
The judge said: "We are simply concerned with the fact that an order was made by a court and a court order is to be obeyed.
"The rule of law would fall apart if people decided which orders and which laws they chose to abide by and which they did not."
The judge added: "I emphasise, we are here to enforce a lawful court order ... what we are engaged in is in no sense a value judgment about the merits or demerits of Government policy in relation to climate change.
"This is a court of law, not of public policy.
The judge said the four people who glued themselves to the steps of the court yesterday were not being punished for those actions, but he added that it "does demonstrate their anxiety to continue the protest with which we are dealing today".
The remaining protesters that were in court today were given suspended sentences but will be jailed if they breach the injunction within the next two years.
Biff Whipster, 54, Stephen Gower, 55, and Paul Sheeky, 46, were given 24-day terms; Ruth Jarman, 58, and Rev Sue Parfitt, 79, were given 30-day sentences; Ben Buse, 36, received a 40-day sentence; David Nixon, 35, Gabriella Ditton, 28, Indigo Rumbelow, 27, and Stephanie Aylett, 27, were given 42-day terms; and Christian Rowe, 24, received a 60-day sentence.
Insulate Britain had said the recent rise in gas and electricity cost "increased the urgency" for change and that they would end their campaign as soon as they hear a "meaningful commitment" to their demands.
