BRIEFING: UN adopting ICJ opinion boost for Paris Agreement, international climate treaties
Last week’s UN General Assembly vote to adopt a resolution endorsing the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on states obligations on climate change is a boost for multilateralism and international climate frameworks, including the Paris Agreement, experts told Carbon Pulse.
Read MoreCalifornia urges court to dismiss US lawsuit over vehicle emissions standards
California regulator ARB asked a federal judge on Tuesday to toss a Trump administration-led lawsuit challenging the state’s vehicle emissions standards, arguing the contested rules no longer support the federal government’s claims of harm.
Read MoreFEATURE: How a legal mechanism used to obstruct climate policy is gaining strength
The rise in the number of cases brought by fossil fuel companies against governments, using Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), is stalling the energy transition and causing governments to hold back on more effective climate policy, despite growing awareness of the topic, say experts.
Read MoreANALYSIS: States, industry groups urge SCOTUS to curb local climate liability suits against oil companies
A broad coalition including the US federal government, states, business groups, legal scholars, and tribal interests has urged the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to block a landmark climate damages lawsuit against two oil companies, arguing it would let local governments regulate GHG emissions through state tort law.
Read MoreNZ govt ignored officials’ advice not to ban climate torts, halt active litigation
Officials advised the New Zealand government against legislating to ban climate-related tort claims, newly released papers showed, while their analysis found that allowing courts to consider such claims against corporates could leave some with a higher standard than required under the country’s emissions trading scheme.
Read MoreLawsuits by oil majors over CO2 storage risks derailing EU climate goal, NGO warns
Major oil and gas companies are taking the European Commission to court over a rule requiring them to help build carbon storage infrastructure, with the legal battle possibly causing serious consequences for Europe’s climate goals, according to analysis by an NGO.
Read MoreIwi leader accuses NZ govt, emitters of ‘coordinated campaign’ to scupper climate litigation
The climate activist and iwi leader suing some of New Zealand’s biggest emitters for climate damage has accused the government of covering up lobbying by some of the defendants, following the release of briefings given to the prime minister’s office outlining legislative changes to ban such litigation.
Read MoreCanadian climate investor advocacy group closes down, cites lack of regulatory change, legal consequences
After five years of shareholder engagement targeting the enforcement of voluntary net zero commitments, a Canadian investor advocacy group announced they are sunsetting as investor accountability is not sufficient to manage climate risk and drive decarbonisation outcomes from the country’s financial institutions and strongest emitters.
Read MoreUPDATE – UN adopts ICJ opinion on legal duty to cut emissions
The UN General Assembly voted on Wednesday to approve a resolution to endorsing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change issued in 2025, which found that states have a legal obligation to cut GHG emissions.
Read MoreIndian fertilisers have immediate emissions reduction opportunities, report says
India’s fertiliser industry could cut emissions immediately through efficiency upgrades, renewable electricity, and carbon capture, a report said.
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