Original article by UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

Climate litigation is expanding at an unprecedented pace, according to a new report released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. The study, Climate Change in the Courtroom: Trends, Impacts, and Emerging Lessons, shows that legal action is increasingly being used to address issues like greenwashing, carbon offsets, and the environmental footprint of data centres. With 3,099 climate-related cases filed across 55 countries and 24 international bodies as of June 2025, up dramatically from previous years, the report highlights how the courtroom has become a powerful arena for advancing climate accountability. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasised that strong judicial systems are essential to ensuring that global transitions in energy, mobility, housing, and food systems are fair, science-based, and effective.

The report also notes that climate litigation has matured significantly over the past four decades, now spanning nearly every aspect of climate governance and informing related battles around biodiversity and pollution. Courts around the world are issuing influential decisions, including a recent Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice clarifying state obligations to address climate change. Scientific evidence, particularly attribution science linking extreme weather to emissions, is playing a growing role in these rulings. However, the report warns of a rise in anti-climate litigation, including efforts to weaken environmental regulations and legal attacks on climate advocates and civil society. While cases from the Global South remain under 10 percent, their share is steadily increasing, contributing to a broader global shift toward using the law as a tool in climate action.