Taking climate culprits to court
Katharine Hayhoe
Climate Scientist | Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech | Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy | Author, SAVING US | LinkedIn Top Voice
GOOD NEWS
Grandmothers know how to get things done. In Switzerland, they’re suing the government for inaction as increasingly dangerous heatwaves are putting everyone’s health at risk—but especially older people who are less able to regulate their body temperatures and more likely to die in heatwaves.
The legal argument that climate inaction is a human rights violation is gaining traction around the world. The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu recently won approval from the United Nations to ask the UN International Court of Justice to weigh in on the legal responsibility of governments to fight the climate crisis. This could open the door for countries to be sued under international law for failing to slow down climate change.
In the U.S., a Supreme Court decision just last month unleashed a wave of lawsuits against the fossil fuel industry that had been stuck in legal limbo for the last five years. Some California cities and counties are suing oil, gas, and coal companies after revelations that ExxonMobil had known since at least 1977 about the catastrophic effect of burning fossil fuels but worked to publicly cast doubt on the science. And in Montana, where the governor has just signed a bill banning the state from considering climate impacts when analyzing large projects such as coal mines and power plants, sixteen young people with Our Children's Trust are taking the state government to court for its failure to address climate impacts.
Looking for more examples? This Columbia University database tracks climate change litigation in the U.S. and around the world.
NOT-SO-GOOD-NEWS
Over 400 people were killed and thousands are still missing after catastrophic flooding?in the Democratic Republic of Congo this past week. The floods in Congo follow others in the central African countries of Uganda and Rwanda, where overflowing rivers and mudslides killed more than 100 people in recent days.?Flooding events like this, unusual even during the rainy season, will only become more common as the Earth’s oceans continue to warm, leading to heavier precipitation even in landlocked areas.
Global sea levels have hit a new record high, and their rate of rise has more than doubled over the last three decades. Along the U.S. Gulf and southeastern coastlines, scientists have documented a dramatic surge in sea levels since 2010, indicating that places like New Orleans, Miami, and Houston?might be even more at risk than they once thought.
领英推荐
By 2050, sea level rise will expose nearly one billion people to a much greater threat of flooding, including populations of major cities like Bangkok, Amsterdam, Manila, Hamburg, and Dubai. The Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu, forecast to be fully underwater by the end of the century, plans?to build a digital version of their country, replicating its geography and landmarks to preserve its history and culture.?
INSPIRATION OF THE MONTH
My inspiration this week is ten-year-old Robert?from Toronto. He uses his YouTube channel and his Children’s Climate Championship Twitter account to engage with other kids, climate activists, and scientists around the world to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
Robert's hopeful and encouraging approach shines. His YouTube channel is full of informative conversations (including an interview with me!) ranging from policy-making to wildlife protection—and of course, ways you can get involved in climate action.
During the Biodiversity COP15 in Montreal last December, Robert told leaders he'd put them on his "nice list" if they pledged to safeguard a minimum of 30% of the planet by 2030 (30x30), promising them a candy cane and the chance to return home for Christmas. The COP secretary invited him to speak at a plenary session and many shared how his words inspired them to push for in the successful adoption of the 30x30 conservation agreement.
By using his voice, Robert refuses to let climate change go unchallenged. His unwavering passion and commitment serve as a powerful reminder that anyone, regardless of age, can make a difference.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join me in person or online on May 20th from 7:30-9pm PDT - "Empowering climate conversations" - Langley, BC; seating is limited so registration for in-person attendance is required. Live steam information will be added to the link!?
Rethinking Choices helps you thrive.
1 年When you sue them and win, they pay the fines with more extraction and production. So it's kinda tough because the crazy weather just gets worse. What we need is to change the ownership structure of oil, gas, and coal. Check out https://bit.ly/consent2better.
Partner @ Deloitte Nederland | Sustainability and Emerging Assurance Lead
1 年Maarten Rijssenbeek Frédérique Demenint -van der Ven
Lawsuits over climate disinformation might help. Still too many people don't believe that the climate crisis is real.
Principal at Clark Environmental Services, PC and Partner at Blue Ripple Technology
1 年What if you became enlightened that Carbon dioxide is NOT an atmospheric pollutant? How would that change your mental climate? Don’t take from me. Look up Dr William Happer, Professor Emeritus, physics, Princeton University. And there are hundreds of thousands of professional geologists like myself, who know that more Carbon Dioxide is actually good for the Earth and it’s inhabitants. Plants grow faster, bigger and better, and life sustaining crop yields rise. If you believe the Al Gore profit based spin on weather, he must first be taught which way a physics dictate the rotation of hurricanes on Earth. Review his “inconveniently” erroneous editing of the books cover photos. Al actually made a “D” in his only weather class in college. The global spin on global narratives about climate amount to the biggest lie ever told.