Climate Claims against Governments in Europe

Environmental claims are part of the movement in seeking justice and taking legal action to promote social, economic and environmental sustainability. State and EU-level climate action and policies are being challenged for being insufficient to limit the global average temperature increase to below 2°C, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. Relying on tort law and/or human rights to underpin the judicial challenges, courts are increasingly allowing class-action climate lawsuits and holding governments accountable for failing to achieve their climate commitments. Governments will have to adapt their climate change policies and strategies to meet their duty of care toward their citizens.