Laying down the law: can litigation hold climate culprits to account?
In this episode
Climate change litigation has come on a long way since the 2000 blockbuster film Erin Brockovich. There's been a huge rise globally in the number of cases being filed against negligent governments and corporations, but what does this mean for our efforts to tackle the climate crisis? We hear from Catherine Higham, policy fellow at LSE, and Laura Clarke from ClientEarth about the kinds of climate-related cases being thrashed out in court. We then cross the pond to Canada, where 15-year-old climate activist Sophia Mathur has been busy suing the Ontario government. We find out what inspired her to act, and what her hopes for the future are.
Plus: Where did Ed go for a *bracing* open water swim this week?
Guests
Catherine Higham, Policy Fellow, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE (@CatherineHigha3, @GRI_LSE)
Laura Clarke, CEO, ClientEarth (@LauraClarkeCE, @ClientEarth)
Sophia Mathur, Climate Activist (@sophiamathur)
More info
Global Trends in Climate Litigation 2022 (Report, Grantham Research Institute, LSE)
Learn more about ClientEarth's work
Learn more about Sophia's journey to becoming an activist
Why 2023 will be a watershed year for climate litigation (Article, The Guardian)
Sign up to The Wave: the newsletter about climate litigation and justice
Cases Mentioned
Urgenda Foundation v State of the Netherlands
Historic German ruling says climate goals not tough enough
Peruvian farmer demands climate compensation from German company
Vanuatu pursue an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice
The case against the UK Government's 'inadequate' Net Zero Strategy
The Torres Straits Islanders case against the Australian government
The first of its kind case against Shell's Board of Directors for mismanagement of climate risk
Mathur et. al. v His Majesty in right of Ontario
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