The Climate Litigation Network works with local partners to bring ground-breaking litigation to compel national governments to adopt ambitious climate plans.
Our story
The Climate Litigation Network (CLN) was established in 2015 following the landmark Urgenda climate case in the Netherlands. The case was the first time globally that a government was ordered to reduce its GHG emissions – representing a watershed moment for the climate justice movement.
To harness the ground-breaking legal strategy and expertise developed in bringing this case, the Urgenda Foundation set up CLN to inspire, incubate and support other cases against governments around the world.
Our focus
Climate change is here now. Ecosystems are collapsing at an unprecedented rate. Vast regions of the world are becoming uninhabitable. Billions of people are facing the prospect of a dangerous and uncertain future. Yet, despite global consensus that we must slash emissions, our governments are failing to protect us.
CLN works with local partners to bring litigation to force governments to adopt Paris-aligned climate plans. There are now over 80 cases against governments around the world.
Impact
This litigation has a track record of success, leading to real-world emissions reductions and widespread community mobilisation. For example:
The Dutch Climate Case led the Dutch Government to massively reduce its reliance on coal power plants and invest billions in accelerating the energy transition.
The successful Irish Climate Case led to an overhaul of Ireland’s weak climate policy and inspired grassroots mobilisation across the country.
In Germany, the Federal Government significantly ramped up its climate targets, just two weeks after an order from the country’s highest court in the Neubauer Climate Case.
In France, over 2.3 million people signed the petition in support of the French Climate Case – making it the largest online petition in French history.
Following a ruling from the Supreme Court, the Nepalese Government adopted new legislation aimed at fighting climate change while tackling localised environmental damages.
Communities are taking their governments to court – in their own words:
Core team
Lucy Maxwell
Sarah Mead
April Williamson
Filippo P. Fantozzi
