Climate Cases
Please note: This page is a work in progress. We will be expanding it gradually to include more information.
Since the Dutch Urgenda decisions, they have become the buzzword of the day: so-called climate lawsuits. They aim to compel governments to effectively protect the climate, to restrict climate-damaging business practices of companies, to safeguard the natural foundations of life and to protect human health. Meanwhile, there is a bewildering variety of climate lawsuits. Environmental groups and individuals, seniors and teenagers, farmers, climate activists, and people whose homes are threatened by melting glaciers are all filing lawsuits. Climate lawsuits involve national courts of all levels, constitutional courts, the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.
It is impossible for us to present and classify all climate lawsuits here. The German version of this site contains a broad overview, as well as updates on certain cases. Since there are English language resources available, we have decided against writing our own English summary and updates. We recommend you check the linked databases for well-written and concise summaries of current climate cases.
