The European Council, led by current president Donald Tusk, is among the defendants in a suit seeking stronger EU climate action. Photo credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images By Dana Drugmand A new lawsuit is challenging the European Union’s climate policies, including the EU’s 2030 emissions reduction target, and demanding more ambitious climate…
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his country's purchase of an oil pipeline does not conflict with its emissions reduction promises. Photo credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images By Ucilia Wang The Canadian government's decision to buy a controversial oil pipeline project is drawing intense criticism from environmental groups and could open the…
A court in the Hague will hear the Dutch government appeal of the Urgenda decision which mandated emissions reductions. Photo credit: Getty Images By Ucilia Wang Update: Following the hearing, the Hague Court of Appeal said it would announce its decision on the government appeal on Oct. 9.…
Shell faces a climate lawsuit in its home country of the Netherlands. Photo credit: Wikimedia By Karen Savage Royal Dutch Shell has rejected demands from an activist group in the Netherlands that the company cut back on oil and gas…
As deforestation threatens much of the Amazon, Colombia has been ordered to create a plan to halt it. Photo credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images By Ucilia Wang An appeals court in Colombia on Thursday reversed a lower court decision and ruled that the country’s government, from the president to…
Documents show Shell even modeled a future of climate disasters in the U.S. and potential liability. Photo credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images By Karen Savage Newly revealed documents indicate oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has not only known about the risks of climate change for decades, but…
By Karen Savage Royal Dutch Shell received an ultimatum from a climate activist group on Wednesday, demanding the company help address climate change or face…
In the Philippines, devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the human rights commission is investigating fossil fuel companies' liability in climate-related damages. Photo credit: Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images By Ucilia Wang The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines is holding the first public hearing of its investigation into whether fossil fuel companies…
The costs of climate damages in Ontario, Canada could run into the billions, prompting a new liability bill by a member of the provincial parliament. Photo credit: Santoshsurneni Photography via Flickr By Karen Savage A Canadian legislator introduced a bill on Monday to protect Ontario residents from the costs of climate change-related damages and to make…
John Knox, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, urges the UN to take a stronger stance on a healthy environment. Photo credit: UN Geneva/Jean-Marc Ferré, via Flickr By Jennifer Dorroh A United Nations expert's report, issued last week, outlines the legal framework for the international community to recognize a healthy environment and…