GLOBAL TRENDS IN CLIMATE CHANGE LITIGATION: 2025 SNAPSHOT

In 2024, global climate change litigation saw 226 new cases, bringing the total to 2,967 across nearly 60 countries, with over 80% considered strategic. While growth slowed overall, the U.S. maintained steady activity and the Global South experienced dynamic expansion, particularly through government-led enforcement and compensation actions. International legal developments, such as the Law of the Sea Tribunal’s advisory opinion, reinforced state obligations and may shape future litigation. Corporate accountability gained prominence, with 20% of cases targeting companies and landmark rulings affirming their climate responsibilities. Courts increasingly scrutinize downstream emissions, and the broader impacts of litigation are influencing climate governance, policy and financial decision-making.