Legal action on climate change

Updated: Thu, 18 Oct 2018

See you in court, citizens tell governments on climate change

Legal actions are based on the principle that governments must meet their obligations under human rights law and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change

Australian islanders to lodge landmark UN complaint on climate
The complaint will be the first legal action worldwide brought by inhabitants of low-lying islands against a nation state, lawyers say By Michael Taylor | Mon, 13 May 2019
Why I am skipping school to protest for action on climate change
Climate change is an issue with a ticking clock and the fact that adults and politicians are not doing enough is, simply put, repulsive By Aisheeya Huq, 16, Australian student | Thu, 29 Nov 2018
Too young to vote, children strike and sue for climate action
Worried about their future, children around the globe are taking matters into their own hands to tackle climate change By Lin Taylor | Fri, 30 Nov 2018
Ignore climate science, and we will see you in court
Governments around the world are now on notice By Marjan Minnesma | Wed, 17 Oct 2018
As climate costs rocket, Vanuatu seeks allies to sue for damages
With its infrastructure "totally degraded" by climate change, "we have to find other ways of getting the money we need," says the foreign minister By Laurie Goering | Tue, 11 Dec 2018
Court orders Dutch govt to do more against climate change
Government must ensure greenhouse gas emissions are at least 25 percent below 1990 levels by the end of 2020 By Reuters | Tue, 9 Oct 2018
U.S. youth activists will appeal setback to climate lawsuit
A half-dozen similar cases have been filed in states including Florida and Alaska By Sebastien Malo | Wed, 15 Aug 2018
U.S. court dismisses climate change lawsuits against oil companies
Judge says the dangers raised are real and worldwide, but the problem "deserves a solution on a more vast scale" By Reuters | Tue, 26 Jun 2018
FACTBOX-U.S. cities suing oil producers alleging climate impacts
Lawsuits are underway in the California, New York and Washington state By Reuters | Tue, 26 Jun 2018
Colorado lawsuit accuses oil companies of climate change
"Climate change is not just about sea level rise. It affects all of us in the middle of the country as well" By Sebastien Malo | Tue, 17 Apr 2018
U.S. judge dismisses Exxon suit seeking to stop climate probes
Judge says it was "implausible" that New York and Massachusetts were pursing bad-faith probes of Exxon to violate its rights By Reuters | Thu, 29 Mar 2018
US government sued after failing to submit climate change report
"This is a critical report that the world needs" By Sebastien Malo | Tue, 13 Mar 2018
Young Colombians file landmark climate lawsuit
"Deforestation is threatening the fundamental rights of those of us who are young today," say the 25 plaintiffs By Anastasia Moloney | Mon, 29 Jan 2018
Ninth U.S. city sues big oil firms over climate change
"Each new lawsuit is incrementally more pressure on the oil companies" By Sebastien Malo | Tue, 23 Jan 2018
New York sues fossil fuel majors, plans pension fund divestment
"Our announcement sends a message to the world that a brighter economy rests on being green" By Reuters | Wed, 10 Jan 2018
Climate change cases predicted to make a legal splash in 2018
"Where there's an abdication of leadership on climate action, I think the courts will have a greater role to play" By Sophie Hares and Sebastien Malo | Thu, 28 Dec 2017
US government calls for teens' climate change lawsuit to be halted
"According to the plaintiffs' complaint virtually every U.S. citizen has the right to sue virtually any government agency," warns government lawyer By Reuters | Mon, 11 Dec 2017
"I'm afraid and angry", says 18-year-old leading climate lawsuit
"If you love us... make your actions reflect your words," young people tell adults at the U.N. climate talks in Bonn By Alex Whiting | Tue, 7 Nov 2017
Two children sue over Trump effort to roll back Clean Power Plan
U.S. government is "relying on junk science" and ignoring "clear and present dangers of climate change" kids charge By Reuters | Mon, 6 Nov 2017
Climate change court cases on the rise globally, majority in U.S.
Cases include efforts to push governments for more aggressive national policies to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions By Alex Whiting | Tue, 23 May 2017
U.S. fossil fuel groups pull out of climate change court case
If industry groups lay out in court scientific findings on climate change they accept it may bind them in other legal proceedings By Reuters | Fri, 26 May 2017
Trump granted request on climate regulations case
The Supreme Court last year put the regulations on hold pending the outcome of the case By Reuters | Fri, 28 Apr 2017
Tech giants back U.S. EPA in climate rule legal challenge
Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon say they support Obama plan to push use of cleaner energy By Reuters | Fri, 1 Apr 2016
Campaigners look to Kenya court to block coal plant
The court case filed by rights group Save Lamu will be heard by the National Environment Tribunal later this month By Daniel Wesangula | Thu, 9 Mar 2017