Global Climate Litigation Report- Status review

July 29, 2023

The report, Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review, was published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University.
The report provides an overview of key climate litigation cases from the past two years (2020–2022 period).
It shows that the number of lawsuits over climate change has more than doubled since 2017, showing that climate litigation is becoming an integral part of securing climate action and justice.
- Climate change litigation includes cases that raise material issues of law or fact relating to climate change mitigation, adaptation or the science of climate change.
While most cases have been brought in the US, climate litigation is taking root all over the world, with about 17% of cases now being reported in developing countries, including the Small Island Developing States.
These legal actions were brought in 65 bodies worldwide: International, regional and national courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies and other adjudicatory bodies, including special procedures of the UN and arbitration tribunals.