Climate litigation is set to grow globally

Significance

The suit is one of several being brought against well-known firms under a 2017 French corporate law that imposes an environmental duty of care on large companies. As climate change-related litigation increases, it is moving beyond its traditional targets of governments and fossil fuel companies.

Impacts

• Increasing climate regulation will provide more potential avenues for climate litigation.
• Government support for fossil fuel companies will see more legal challenges.
• Some jurisdictions will look to impose personal liability on corporate directors and officers for the climate impacts of their companies.