Abstract

Courts are playing an increasingly visible role in policy debates about climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as climate change-related loss and damage. In this lunchtime seminar I will discuss how lawsuits are addressing the causes and consequences of climate change, such as the expansion of airports, the reliance on coal-powered energy and the climate-related erosion of habitats. First I will present some general trends on climate litigation – the actors and jurisdictions involved, and main strategies used. I will then explore three key and emerging themes in the interdisciplinary literature on climate change litigation: the relationship between litigation and governance; how time and scale feature in climate litigation; and the role of science in climate change litigation. Finally, I will discuss some of the challenges of using courts to address climate change, as well as the pressing need for research examining the outcomes and impact of climate change litigation.