THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review
Authors
Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University
UN Environment Programme
The 2023 Status Review of Global Climate Litigation reveals a significant increase in climate-related court cases worldwide, more than doubling from 884 in 2017 to 2,180 in 2022. The report, a collaborative effort between the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and UNEP, emphasizes the growing role of litigation as a mechanism for enforcing climate action and justice. While the majority of cases have been initiated in the U.S., the report highlights a global spread, with 17% of cases now reported in developing countries, including Small Island Developing States.
The report categorizes ongoing climate litigation into six main areas, including human rights challenges, domestic non-enforcement of climate laws, efforts to keep fossil fuels in the ground, advocacy against greenwashing, corporate liability for climate harm, and failures to adapt to climate impacts. Notable cases include legal actions against governments and corporations for inconsistency with the Paris Agreement and net-zero commitments.
The report also anticipates future trends, such as a rise in cases dealing with climate migration, Indigenous Peoples' rights, and liability following extreme weather events. It underscores the strong human rights linkages to climate change, leading to greater protections for vulnerable groups and compelling governments and corporations to pursue more ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.
