As of May 2018, there were 14 ongoing climate change lawsuits against fossil fuel companies, and one notice of intention to file a claim against an oil company had been presented. Litigation is one of the many different tools in the growing movement demanding corporate accountability in relation to climate change, which has involved collaboration between scientists, lawyers, and human rights and climate activists, who continue to integrate their strategies...

This briefing examines the growing pace of climate change litigation against companies and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Key takeaways are:

• Scientific research has bolstered legal claims
• Climate litigation is used as a tool for the broader climate justice movement
• Human rights and environmental lawyers can learn from each other
• Novel approaches and collaborations for climate justice are emerging
• Carbon majors are on the offensive