The Contribution of the Courts in Tackling Climate Change

Climate change is a persistent, pervasive and pernicious problem. Each branch of government, including the judiciary, has a role to play in tackling climate change. Courts can make a meaningful contribution by: providing equal access to justice; determining and not deferring climate change claims; upholding the rule of law; taking and forcing the executive, legislature and private sector to take climate change seriously; explaining and upholding the fundamental values underpinning the law; promoting environmental values and putting a price on them; assisting the progressive and principled development of climate change law and policy; and making reasoned and evidence-based decisions.