Weather Extremes and Their Use in Climate Litigation

Rupert Stuart-Smith

Climate change attribution and projection studies have shed light on the physical, health, and economic impacts of climate change, and how they are expected to worsen with further greenhouse gas emissions. These studies have also provided crucial evidence for the growing numbers of legal cases that aim to hold countries and companies accountable for their contributions to the impacts of climate change. In this talk I will explain how climate impact research is being used to support legal claims that seek to compel states or corporations to reduce their emissions to prevent worsening climate change impacts, or demand compensation for losses and adaptation costs already incurred. I will detail the new research avenues being explored that may further clarify climate obligations, and evaluate the potential of the law to be an effective lever in driving climate action.