Cross-cutting Issues

336 posts

Guest Post: Sabin Center Expands the U.S. Climate Litigation Database with New Carbon Offsets Case Category

As markets for both voluntary and mandatory carbon offsets and credits have grown in recent years, the number of lawsuits involving offsets or credits also has increased. For example, American consumers have recently sued multiple companies, including Delta and Danone Waters (which sells Evian bottled water), for making potentially misleading […]

This Is How We Solve a Heat Crisis

Every summer now feels like Groundhog Day. More heat records broken. Soon, we’ll have more school days canceled (take Philadelphia for example where nearly 30 percent of city schools recently shut down due to lack of cooling systems). We already have more heat-related deaths (in fact, according to a study, […]

Guest Blog: Pioneering Decision from the Indian Supreme Court Recognizing Freedom from the Adverse Effects of Climate Change as a Fundamental Right.

Introduction Though environmental rights have long been recognized globally, they have undergone particularly notable evolution over the past half-century. India, surprisingly to some, has one of the most sophisticated frameworks concerning State obligations and individual protections, including a robust system for guaranteeing the enjoyment of environment rights to individuals. The […]

Climate Change Litigation Turns Toward Animal Agriculture

Even as the geographical and doctrinal diversity of climate change litigation increases, climate lawsuits—whether they seek to hold private actors directly accountable or challenge government policies—continue to focus primarily on fossil fuels. This makes sense given that major oil and gas companies (sometimes called the “Carbon Majors”) are leading contributors […]

The National Heat Strategy is a Strong First Step

On August 14 the federal government released the United States’ first National Heat Strategy. As it stands today, the Strategy is a major step forward for coordinated federal action to recognize and address extreme heat and it confirms that agencies across the federal government are making this a high priority […]

Recognition of Nature’s Rights: A Crucial Step in Peruvian Climate Litigation with a Human Rights Approach

In the recent session of Peru’s Congress, the Andean, Amazonian, Afro-Peruvian, Environmental, and Ecological Affairs Committee approved Legislative Reports  advocating for nature’s legal recognition as a rights-bearing entity. These reports establish specific legal protections to ensure nature’s existence, natural development, regeneration, restoration, and evolution. In light of this development, this […]

Federal Court Refuses to Halt Construction of Revolution Wind Project

Over the past few years, opponents of offshore wind energy have filed at least 15 lawsuits against 5 projects in federal court. One tactic that plaintiffs in these lawsuits sometimes use is to move for a preliminary injunction to halt construction until the court reaches a final decision on the […]