Global Climate Litigation Cases Top 3,000, UN Report Reveals 

The number of climate-related legal cases around the world has surged to more than 3,000, according to a new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law.

As of 30 June 2025, a total of 3,099 climate cases had been filed across 55 countries and in 24 international or regional courts and tribunals. The latest figures highlight a growing trend in the use of legal systems to drive climate action, up from 2,180 cases in 2022 and just 884 in 2017.

While the majority of cases continue to originate from countries in the Global North, the report notes a gradual rise in litigation from the Global South, which now accounts for nearly 10% of all cases.

The publication, Climate Change in the Courtroom: Trends, Impacts, and Emerging Lessons, is the fourth in a series that tracks climate litigation globally. Drawing from the Sabin Center’s databases, the 78-page document outlines key legal developments, major rulings, and emerging areas of concern.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen described litigation as an increasingly vital tool in holding governments and corporations accountable on climate commitments.

“Effective climate action requires bold, science-driven policymaking. But it also demands independent judicial systems that can uphold justice and support a fair transition,” she said.

The report highlights a growing range of legal challenges, including cases targeting greenwashing claims, the environmental impact of carbon offset schemes, and the energy consumption of data centres.

It also references a landmark Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice, which recently clarified states’ legal duties in addressing climate change under international law.

Courts are becoming more receptive to scientific evidence, including attribution science, which links specific extreme weather events to greenhouse gas emissions. This trend, the report notes, is influencing both domestic law and international norms.

However, the report also warns of a rise in what it terms “anti-climate litigation” — legal actions aimed at reversing environmental protections or weakening ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards in investment frameworks.

Of particular concern is the targeting of activists, journalists, and civil society organisations opposing high-emission projects. These cases, according to the report, reflect the increasingly contested nature of climate litigation.

“This is not a one-sided field,” the authors write. “Climate litigation encompasses a broad array of actors, strategies, and motivations. It both shapes and challenges the global climate agenda.”

The report concludes that the legal tools developed within climate litigation are now being mirrored in emerging fields, including biodiversity and plastics pollution cases, underscoring the wider impact of legal activism in shaping environmental governance.

Reported by:

ABDULLAH ABDUL MALIK