UN: Environment Programme publishes Global Climate Change Litigation Review
On 27 July 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme (“UNEP”) launched its Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review (“2023 Status Review”).
The 2023 Status Review updates previous UNEP reports published in 2017 and 2020. It provides an overview of the current state of climate change litigation and an update of global climate change litigation trends between 2020–2022, using a database maintained by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law (“Sabin Center”). The Sabin Centre defines climate change litigation as cases that raise material issues of law or fact relating to climate change mitigation, adaptation or the science of climate change brought before a range of administrative, judicial and other adjudicatory bodies.
In summary, the 2023 Status Review finds that climate change litigation is increasing and broadening in geographical reach, while the range of legal theories is expanding. Children and youth, women’s groups, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples, among others, are taking a prominent role in bringing these cases and driving climate change governance reform in more and more countries around the world.
- The 2023 Status Review is available here.
This advisory note was prepared as part of our partner organisation ALT Advisory’s new Climate Justice & Sustainability Practice (CJS). With an emphasis on implementation, monitoring, and impact reporting, CJS aims to build climate-resilience through digital transformation and climate and environmental justice. Find out more here.
Please note: The information contained in this note is for general guidance on matters of interest, and does not constitute legal advice. For any enquiries, please contact us at [email protected].
