The European Council and European Union Parliament cannot be sued by individuals to force stronger climate action, a court ruled Tuesday. Photo credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images By Karen Savage Despite recognizing that climate change affects everyone, a European court dismissed a case filed by 10 families and groups in eight countries,…
Greenpeace protesters were among activists pressing BP to pass shareholder resolutions to address climate change. Photo credit: Greenpeace UK via Twitter By Karen Savage Climate change-related proposals met with mixed results at British Petroleum’s annual shareholder’s meeting on Tuesday. A proposal directing BP to adopt a…
Torres Strait Islanders, fearing their home and culture will disappear under rising seas, want the Australian government held accountable for climate impacts. Photo credit: Brad Marsellos via Flickr By Dana Drugmand A group of indigenous Australians have brought a legal complaint against the Australian government for violating their human rights by contributing to…
Climate protesters David Durant, left, and Roger Hallam were acquitted by a jury in London using the necessity defense. Photo courtesy of Extinction Rebellion By Isabella Kaminski Two climate change protesters were acquitted of criminal damage in the United Kingdom in a rare success using what has been called…
Climate protesters oppose the UK government's Heathrow Airport expansion plans because they run counter to its commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Photo credit: Peter Summers/Getty Images By Isabella Kaminski LONDON—A challenge to the expansion of London’s Heathrow Airport failed on Wednesday. Several groups had sought to stop the building of a…
Climate activists succeeded in prompting the Philippines Human Rights Commission to investigate fossil fuel companies, one of several examples of rights-based climate claims. Photo credit: Ted Aljibe/Getty Images By Kaitlin Sullivan A small but growing number of human rights-based climate cases have already proved that this legal approach is justified and can yield…
Toronto could be the next major city to file a climate liability suit to recoup climate costs from the fossil fuel industry. Photo credit: City of Toronto By Marco Poggio Toronto became the latest city to explore possible litigation to make fossil fuel companies pay for the costs of climate change, joining…
Indonesia President Joko Widodo promised strong government action after the massive 2015 wildfires, but activists charge the government has not followed through. Photo credit: Romeo Gacad/Getty Images By Nithin Coca More than $1 billion in fines have not been paid by 11 Indonesian palm oil and paper pulp companies found guilty for…
The European Union Parliament heard young climate activist Greta Thunberg speak on Tuesday about failing to address climate issues, but also declined to sanction Exxon for alleged climate deception. Photo credit: Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images By Karen Savage The European Parliament decided against revoking Exxon’s lobbying badges after determining the company had not been formally invited to attend a hearing…
Plaintiffs allege Shell’s current business model threatens human rights because the oil giant is knowingly undermining the world’s chances to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Photo Credit: Paul Ellis/Getty Images By Karen Savage Seven environmental and human rights organizations in the Netherlands have filed suit against Royal Dutch Shell for failing to align its business…