6 Lawsuits Concerning Climate Change You Should Know About
Have you ever wondered how climate change is impacting our environment and what we are doing to try to prevent it? Climate change has been a hot topic in the media lately, and for good reason. The Earth’s climate is changing more rapidly than ever before, and if we don’t take steps to mitigate the damage, the consequences could be catastrophic. One way to try to prevent further damage is by filing lawsuits against those who are contributing to climate change. Here are six lawsuits concerning climate change that you should know about:
1. Juliana v. United States
This lawsuit, filed in 2015 by a group of young people ages 10-21, is considered to be one of the most significant climate change lawsuits in history. The plaintiffs allege that the government has failed to take adequate action to combat climate change, and as a result, their Constitutional rights have been violated.
2. American Electric Power Company v. Connecticut
This 2011 case was filed against a group of power companies by the state of Connecticut. The state alleged that the power companies were emitting “greenhouse gasses” that were contributing to climate change, and therefore causing harm to the state.
3. City of Baltimore v. BP
In this 2018 lawsuit, the city of Baltimore sued BP, ExxonMobil, and other oil companies for knowingly contributing to climate change and failing to adequately warn the public about the dangers of their products.
4. Kivalina v. ExxonMobil
This 2008 lawsuit was filed by a group of Native Alaskans who live in the town of Kivalina. The town is gradually being eroded away by the sea, and the residents allege that ExxonMobil is responsible because of their contributions to climate change.
5. Urgenda Foundation v. Netherlands
This 2015 lawsuit was brought by the Urgenda Foundation, a Dutch environmental organization, against the government of the Netherlands. The plaintiffs argued that the government was not doing enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and as a result, they were violating their human rights.
6. People of New York v. BP
In this 2018 lawsuit, the state of New York filed a lawsuit against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and other oil companies for their role in climate change. The state is seeking compensation for the damage that has been done to New York as a result of climate change.
These are just a few of the many lawsuits that have been filed concerning climate change. As more and more people become aware of the dangers of climate change, it’s likely that we will see even more lawsuits in the future.
If you or someone you know is interested in environmental law, consider contacting an attorney like Napoli Shkolnik. They have years of experience fighting for the rights of those affected by climate change and other environmental issues.
