Climate Crisis Goes To Courts Worldwide
Study Finds Holding Governments and Corporations Legally Accountable for Climate Crisis 'Has Become a Global Phenomenon'; Climate action and liability cases have been filed in at least 28 countries
Jessica Corbett, July 4, 2019 (Common Dreams)
“…[L]awsuits to push governments to more ambitiously address the climate emergency and make polluting corporations pay… are growing in popularity around the world…[1,328 legal actions related to the climate crisis filed between 1990 and May of this year… by citizens, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and local governments…[according to a] report from the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics…[The United States accounts for 1,023 cases, but] multiple lawsuits also have been filed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom…Climate change litigation continues to expand across jurisdictions as a tool to strengthen climate action, though more evidence of its impact is needed…Climate change cases have been brought in at least 28 countries around the world…
Most defendants are governments but lawsuits are increasingly targeting the highest greenhouse-gas-emitting companies…Climate change-related claims are also being pursued by investors, activist shareholders, cities, and states…Climate change litigation in low- and middle-income countries is growing in quantity and importance…From 1990 to 2016, based on available data from 873 lawsuits, U.S. litigation more often hindered climate policy than favored it…[But about 4 of 5 of the 154 climate lawsuits filed since November 2016 were more favorable, though] many of the cases from 2017 and 2018 are ongoing…[Outside the U.S., 43%] of the 305 cases brought between 1994 and May 2019 have led to an outcome that is considered favorable to advancing climate change efforts…[M]any of the court battles haven't yet been settled…” click here for more
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