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Why are climate campaigners turning to the courts?
(Reuters, 27 May 2021) The number of legal cases seeking stronger climate action has nearly doubled over the last three years.
This week's landmark court case against Royal Dutch Shell has forced deep emission cuts on the energy giant - part of a global trend for legal action on climate change where traditional tactics fail.
Here's the background on what is driving the trend and the impact of climate lawsuits.
Are climate cases rising significantly?
Climate change litigation has grown in importance over recent decades as a way to force action, say experts who are tracking hundreds of active cases around the world.
The number of climate court cases has nearly doubled over the last three years, driving government and corporations into tougher commitments, the United Nations reported this year.
It found a rise from 884 cases in 2017 to at least 1,550 in 2020, across 38 countries from the United States to South Korea.
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Reuters, 27 May 2021: Why are climate campaigners turning to the courts?
