Climate change litigation as a tool for global environmental policy reform: A comparative study of international case law

Climate change litigation has emerged as a potent mechanism to hold governments, corporations, and other entities accountable for their role in environmental degradation and to drive forward global environmental policy reform. This comparative study examines landmark cases across various jurisdictions, exploring how litigation has been utilized to enforce environmental laws, promote stricter emission regulations, and demand climate-related disclosures. By analyzing a diverse selection of case law from regions including North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, the study identifies key legal arguments, doctrines, and trends that have shaped the outcomes of these cases. It further highlights the role of non-governmental organizations, indigenous communities, and youth activists in initiating and advancing climate change lawsuits, thus emphasizing the intersectionality and global reach of climate-related legal action. The findings reveal a progressive alignment of domestic courts with international climate frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement, demonstrating how litigation has become an influential tool for environmental advocacy and policy reform. This research contributes to the growing discourse on climate justice by providing insights into the legal strategies that have successfully driven systemic changes and offering policy recommendations for future climate governance.