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‘More influential than Urgenda’: UK Finch ruling 20 months on

‘More influential than Urgenda’: UK Finch ruling 20 months on

“I've become quite the celebrity in the small world of climate litigation,” laughs Sarah Finch, an environmental activist who won a landmark climate lawsuit that has made big waves in the UK and further afield. Finch had challenged Surrey county council’s decision to extend planning permission for

Climate doesn’t care about borders. Nor does climate litigation

Climate doesn’t care about borders. Nor does climate litigation

When residents of the Caribbean island of Bonaire faced the Netherlands in court last October, they had few expectations for what they might achieve. They had travelled from a place that is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise, extreme heat and other climate-related impacts, but also their beloved home that they

Ten climate litigation moments to look out for in 2026

Ten climate litigation moments to look out for in 2026

1. Netherlands: Will court rule in favour of Bonaire islanders? A group of Bonaire islanders, together with Greenpeace Nederland, filed a lawsuit against the Netherlands in early 2024, asking a court to order the government to cut its greenhouse emissions much more quickly and to develop a concrete adaptation plan.

International Criminal Court puts corporate polluters on notice

International Criminal Court puts corporate polluters on notice

By Isabella Kaminski and Molly Quell Polluters have long faced civil litigation for the harm they cause to the environment. Now the International Criminal Court could be coming for them - although climate change is probably out of its grasp People working for corporations now risk criminal prosecution in The

Did the ICJ advisory opinion shift the dial at COP30?

Did the ICJ advisory opinion shift the dial at COP30?

Less than five months have passed since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) produced its landmark advisory opinion (AO) on climate change. The document has already been woven into the narrative of new climate litigation and wedged into existing legal cases, and judges are starting to reference it in their

Make your courts respect environmental protest rights, UN experts tell states

Make your courts respect environmental protest rights, UN experts tell states

Make your courts respect environmental protest rights, UN experts tell states Governments must ensure their judiciaries respect the rights of citizens to push for more ambitious climate action and a just transition to a greener world, UN experts have said. New guidelines for states, published in October by UN special

A human rights legacy? Ten years since Philippine typhoon survivors sought climate justice

A human rights legacy? Ten years since Philippine typhoon survivors sought climate justice

By Jhesset O Enano A pioneering piece of climate justice work by one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations appears to have slipped away from national and global consciousness, but it may yet have its moment in the spotlight. It was just before Christmas in December 2021 when Super