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Climate litigation is now being pursued across more countries than ever before, according to a report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law at Columbia University.
The report reveals how legal action is addressing issues such as greenwashing, carbon offsets, and energy-intensive data centres.
Climate Change in the courtroom: Trends, impacts, and emerging lessons is the fourth edition of a series first launched in 2017. Drawing on data from the Sabin Centre’s Climate Change Litigation Databases, the report examines key trends, pending cases, and court decisions.
“Climate litigation has evolved into a powerful global tool for advancing climate action, and accountability,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “Transforming our energy, mobility, housing, and food systems must be a collective effort, through ambitious and science-based policymaking. Independent judicial systems are essential to ensuring this transformation is both just and effective.”
As of June 30, 2025, a cumulative 3,099 climate-related cases have been filed in 55 national jurisdictions and 24 international or regional courts, tribunals, or quasi-judicial bodies. This continues a trend in climate-related cases filed by 2022 (2,180 cases), 2020 (1,550 cases) and 2017 (884 cases). While cases from the Global South still represent less than 10 per cent in 2025, their share is steadily growing.
Since the first recorded climate litigation case nearly four decades ago, the field has expanded and matured. Litigation now covers virtually all aspects of climate governance, and similar patterns are appearing in litigation on related crises such as biodiversity and pollution.
The report highlights significant decisions from around the world including the landmark and recent Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clarifies States’ obligations in addressing climate change. Courts are increasingly recognising the scientific basis for climate-related claims, including through attribution science that links specific extreme weather events to greenhouse gas emissions. These rulings help define global norms and obligations.
At the same time, the report also identifies anti-climate litigation is on the rise, with lawsuits aimed at deregulating environmental protections or deprioritising environmental, social, and corporate governance issues in investments. Particularly concerning is the increase in lawsuits against public opposition to high-emitting projects, which target climate advocates, journalists, and civil society organisations.
