What is climate litigation? With Planet Law Lab

There are many ways to take climate action: one of these involves going to court. An increasing number of groups worldwide are driving change through legal means, in a process commonly known as climate litigation. 

Climate litigation matters because it brings climate responsibility into the legal arena, where science, rights, and accountability can meet enforceable action. It's not just about winning court cases—it's about creating leverage for systemic transformation. 

The strategic use of law has an important role to play in the sustainable transition. Some landmark cases have led to policy reforms or court-ordered emissions reductions, influencing broader societal and economic change. Even if courts rule against environmentalists’ claims, bringing a climate case to court raises awareness among the public and can set precedents for future lawsuits. But what does it mean for companies? 

We explore this topic in this week’s episode with Zaneta Sedilekova, director of climate and nature risk at Planet Law Lab. In conversation with co-host Giulia Bottaro, they unpack the definition of climate litigation, how this trend has grown in the last few years, and the role of citizens in keeping governments and corporations accountable.  

The conversation also touches on high-profile cases – one of which, Saúl Luciano Lliuya vs RWE, is due a decision imminently. This landmark case is the first one where an individual, a Peruvian farmer named Saúl Luciano Lliuya, is claiming damages against the German energy giant RWE for historical emissions, which in turn are behind the risk of floods in his town.

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