Climate change litigation – Insights into the evolving global landscape

This report provides an analysis of the climate change litigation landscape, aiming to better define the boundaries of this growing global phenomenon and further understand its development and impact. Seven key drivers are identified as well as three major factors that describe why climate litigation has become a global phenomenon. These findings will help to guide the scoping of a systematic and holistic approach to monitoring this rapidly evolving and complex landscape as we look ahead:

1. Climate change is a source of new laws, standards and duties of care.
2. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, climate litigation has gained pace, increased in volume and expanded in scope and geographical coverage.
3. Climate litigation cases can be classified in a variety of ways.
4. Governments and corporates are being targeted by a wide range of litigants.
5. Climate litigation risk is being amplified by seven key factors.
6. Climate change-related litigation is a truly global phenomenon.
7. Climate change disputes are also within the purview of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.