Nearly 3,000 Climate Lawsuits Filed Since 1986: Report

The report says that around 20% of climate cases filed in 2024 targeted companies or their directors, and officers. 

The number of climate litigation cases has reached 2,967 in 2024 and it continues to rise. A new report titled Global trends in Climate Change Litigation series by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science found that climate lawsuits, including those challenging fossil fuels, are reaching the highest courts around the world.

The analysis found that 276 climate-related cases reached apex courts- such as supreme courts and constitutional courts- across the world since 2015, with the US accounting for the largest share. More than 80% of cases have challenged the government, including two decisions in 2024 ordering state governments in the US to undertake more ambitious climate action plans. 

Climate litigation is defined as cases before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies that involve material issues of climate change science, policy or law. 

Growing Scrutiny on Corporations

Globally, around 20% of climate cases filed in 2024 targeted companies or their directors, and officers. The range of targets of corporate climate litigation continued to expand including new cases against professional services firms for facilitated emissions, and the agriculture sector for climate disinformation. 

The report also noted that highly anticipated case decisions in corporate climate cases including Milieudefensie vs. Shell and a recent ruling in the German court in Lliuya vs. RWE showed that companies can be held liable for their historical global emissions. Cases seeking compensation based on a new methodology for calculating climate damage from illegal deforestation, were successfully awarded in Brazil. 

While the number of cases have continued to grow over the years, the overall rate of growth has slowed over the years. Since the Trump-Vance administration took office in the US in January 2025. The report noted that there has been a wave of litigation aimed at contesting executive decisions to roll back climate policy.

Shift seen in the Global South 

In the Global South, governments, regulatory agencies and public prosecutors are playing a key role in climate litigation developments. Around 56% of cases were initiated by government bodies. The report said it signalled a shift towards enforcement actions and cases seeking compensation for localised climate damages. 

Catherine Higham, Senior Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science said, “Governments and companies are increasingly having to consider the legal ramifications of pushing ahead with oil or gas projects, as they risk being dragged through the courts. The broader impacts of climate litigation are becoming increasingly visible and well-documented. It is no longer a niche concern; it is increasingly seen as a financial risk.”

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