Joana Setzer

The authors of this paper set out to provide the first comprehensive global survey and analysis of constitutional provisions which make specific mention of climate change. Read more

This article revisits and expands on extant scholarly inquiries into the so-called ‘rights turn’ in climate litigation, with the objective of providing a more comprehensive appreciation of the role of human rights litigation in the context of the climate emergency. Read more

This paper provides an overview of known climate litigation case numbers, metrics and categorisations, and considers some of the most relevant trends in the arguments and strategies employed by litigants. Read more

In recent years, climate cases to combat illegal deforestation in the Amazon have begun to be brought before Brazilian courts. This paper focuses on a lawsuit filed by the Institute of Amazonian Studies against the Brazilian state. Read more

In this book chapter the authors examine the context and specificities of climate change litigation in Brazil. Read more

This paper takes stock of recent developments in climate litigation, to make sense of the ‘rights turn’ identified by earlier studies. It maps pro and anti climate cases that rely in whole or in part on human rights arguments, using categories deployed in the literature on climate and on environmental rights litigation. The objective is to better appreciate the role of human rights law and remedies in climate action. Read more

There is no country in the world that does not have at least one law or policy dealing with climate... Read more

Yoshida, K. & Setzer, J. (2020). The Trends and Challenges of Climate Change Litigation and Human Rights. European Human Rights Law... Read more

This article contributes to the study of transnational climate adaptation through an investigation of international connectivity on climate adaptation between regional policy-makers. Read more

New scholarship has identified trends, constraints, and opportunities for climate litigation in the Global South. While countries in the Global... Read more

Cases involving climate change have been litigated in the courts for some time, but new directions and trends have started... Read more

Subnational diplomacy has become an increasingly important part of foreign policy and international relations. This observation concerns a state of... Read more

The urgency of the climate crisis requires several degrees of intervention and the involvement of state powers, the private sector... Read more

The urgency of the climate crisis requires several degrees of intervention and the involvement of state powers, the private sector... Read more

The urgency of the climate crisis requires several degrees of intervention and the involvement of state powers, the private sector... Read more

Studies of climate change litigation have proliferated over the past two decades, as lawsuits across the world increasingly bring policy... Read more

Non-state and subnational climate actors have become central to global climate change governance. Quantitatively assessing climate mitigation undertaken by these... Read more

This paper discusses the history and the future prospects of private climate litigation, which seeks to hold private entities legally... Read more

Setzer, J., and Nachmany, M. 2018. National Governance The state’s role in steering polycentric action. In: Jordan, A., Huitema, D.,... Read more

A deepening understanding of the importance of climate change has caused a recent and rapid increase in the number of... Read more

Abstract The distinct role of subnational governments such as states and provinces in addressing climate change has been increasingly acknowledged.... Read more

Abstract This article examines the local outcomes of São Paulo city’s engagement in transnational networks for climate protection. The participation... Read more

The article shows that the diplomatic activity of local and regional governments is still constrained by international and domestic legal frameworks. Read more

Setzer, J. (2014). In: Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. November 2014. DOI: 10.1080/1523908X.2014.984669 Read more

Rei, F., Cunha, K. and Setzer, J. (2013). In: Brazilian Journal of Environmental Law, v. 71:265-286 (Portuguese). Read more

Rei, F., Setzer, J. and Cunha, K. (2012). Brazilian Journal of International Law, 9(3), p. 129-140 (Portuguese). Read more

In a number of cities around the world the adoption of climate policies has been driven by partnerships between multiple... Read more

Rei, F., Cunha, K. and Setzer, J. (2012).  TIP – Trabajos de Investigación en Paradiplomacia, 1(2), p. 50-63 (Spanish). Read more

This report describes Europe's 'Fit for 55 package and broader programme of legal reforms associated with the EU's climate ambitions, and looks at the role of climate litigation in shaping Europe's legislation. Read more

Climate litigation in Europe has emerged as a way to bring about more ambitious climate policies and actions from governments and companies and some European cases and decisions have been influencing litigants and courts around the world. This report provides a synthesis of information on the current state of development of climate change litigation on the continent. Read more

Government framework litigation cases are becoming increasingly common, with litigants challenging governments' policy responses to climate change. This report explores the significant impacts this has had, and will continue to have, on national policymaking and climate action. Read more

This latest edition of our annual report on global trends in climate change litigation takes stock of developments over the period May 2021 to May 2022, and draws on a number of recent case studies from around the world. It also identifies areas where climate litigation cases are likely to increase in the future. Read more

This presentation given at the Inevitable Policy Response Quarterly Forecast Tracker event on 30th June 2022 provides an assessment of the international policy response to the Just Transition. Read more

This report aims to enhance the legal community’s understanding of climate-related ‘greenwashing’ litigation, examining key cases and developments, particularly cases and complaints brought against the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and offering practical recommendations to actors including companies, policymakers, NGOs and lawyers. Read more

Climate change framework laws are needed for the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement. This policy insight examines the elements that can be ‘built in’ to framework laws to specify accountability for the implementation of the core obligations contained within, based on a review of 43 such laws from the Climate Change Laws of the World database. Read more

Legal Interventions examines three categories of legal intervention that can enable cities to drive climate action: litigation, legal reform initiatives and... Read more

This is the third report in our Global trends in climate litigation series, focusing on cases filed or concluded between May 2020 and May 2021. It provides an update of known case numbers, metrics and categorisations, and considers some of the most relevant trends in the arguments and strategies employed by litigants. Read more

As evidence of climate change mounts and the world begins to transition to a net-zero economy, climate liability risks are... Read more

As evidence of climate change mounts and the world begins to transition to a net-zero economy, climate liability risks are... Read more

The hopes for and devastating failure of the Copenhagen COP of the UNFCCC in 2009 sparked a new era of... Read more

Climate change litigation has been growing in importance over the past three decades as a way of either advancing or delaying effective action on climate change. This report reviews key developments around the world in climate litigation over the period May 2019 to May 2020. Read more

This report provides a strategic overview of the potential effects of the low carbon transition on the general insurance market.... Read more

This policy report provides an overview of current issues in climate change litigation, focusing on selected cases and developments from May 2018 to May 2019.  Read more

The Urban Climate Change Research Network’s Second Assessment Report on Climate Change in Cities (ARC3.2) is the second in a... Read more

This brief summarises the most recent trends in climate change litigation and legislation, now with global coverage. Read more

This submission to the Talanoa Dialogue covers themes of climate legislation, institutions and governance, and the credibility of climate change commitments. Read more

This brief summarises and updates the latest annual stocktake of trends in climate change litigation and legislation. Read more

This report summarises key trends in climate change legislation and litigation. It is the sixth stock-take in a series of global Climate Legislation Studies that dates back to 2010. Read more

This report summarises the main insights from the 2015 Global Climate Legislation Study. It is the fifth edition in a... Read more

Note: New and updated 2015 edition available The GLOBE Climate Legislation Study is the most comprehensive audit of climate legislation... Read more

In this book chapter the authors examine the context and specificities of climate change litigation in Brazil. Read more

Subnational diplomacy has become an increasingly important part of foreign policy and international relations. This observation concerns a state of... Read more

The urgency of the climate crisis requires several degrees of intervention and the involvement of state powers, the private sector... Read more

The urgency of the climate crisis requires several degrees of intervention and the involvement of state powers, the private sector... Read more

The urgency of the climate crisis requires several degrees of intervention and the involvement of state powers, the private sector... Read more

Setzer, J., and Nachmany, M. 2018. National Governance The state’s role in steering polycentric action. In: Jordan, A., Huitema, D.,... Read more

A deepening understanding of the importance of climate change has caused a recent and rapid increase in the number of... Read more

This feature article reports on legal efforts to challenge Exxon’s plans for offshore oil drilling in Guyana. Read more

In this article for Chatham House's 'The World Today' magazine Catherine Higham and Joana Setzer explain how climate change litigation has emerged as a crucial channel for advancing climate policy and ensuring accountability. Read more

This report considers the growth in both climate litigation and activism. The articles includes data from the Global Trends in Climate Change Litigation: 2022 Snapshot report and quotes from co-author Joana Setzer. Read more

With the High Court in London ruling in July 2022 that the UK Government is in breach of its climate obligations, Catherine Higham and Joana Setzer discuss the judgment and explain the implications for climate action in the UK and beyond. Read more

This article reports on an attempt by environmental groups to sue Dutch airline KLM for what they claim to be misleading adverts promoting the company's sustainability initiative. Read more

This article reports on research by the Institute which shows a big increase in legal cases against the fossil fuel industry and other corporate sectors over the past year. Read more

This article in the FT reviews the state of climate related laws and litigation in the United States. The article features data from the Climate Change Laws of the World database and quotes from Joana Setzer. Read more

This article reports on the award of the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize to Marjan Minnesma, who sued the Dutch government over its carbon emissions plans. The article includes quotes from Joana Setzer who discusses the importance of the court case. Read more

This article reports on the growth in litigation cases against fossil fuel companies and governments. The article includes quotes from... Read more

is article reports on an inquiry by the human rights commission in the Philippines which sought to investigate companies’ responsibility for climate damages stemming from their operations. Read more

This article in The Economist considers the rise in climate related lawsuits across the world. Many of these cases have been inspired by, or make reference to, the Paris Agreement on climate change. The article makes use of data from the Grantham Research Institute’s Global Trends in Climate Litigation study. Read more

This podcast recording for New Scientist includes a discussion with Joana Setzer on the growing use of legal action to... Read more

Annalisa Savaresi and Joana Setzer outline trends in climate cases that rely on human rights arguments to promote action on climate change – and also a growing body of ‘just transition’ cases that are questioning the distribution of the benefits and burdens being created by the drive to net-zero. Read more

This BBC Future article highlights a number of recent cases of companies which have been exposed for making misleading climate claims in their advertising. The article includes an interview with Joana Setzer who co-authored a recent report on 'greenwashing'. Read more

In this article a selection of people working in the field of climate changed are asked what gives them grounds for optimism. The article includes an interview with Joana Setzer Read more

This article reports on the apparent growth in efforts to challenge questionable climate commitments made by companies and governments. The article includes an interview with Joana Setzer. Read more

In this short video feature for the BBC Joana Setzer discusses her career experience as an academic and climate change lawyer. Read more

Environmental constitutionalism has become a widespread phenomenon but now a group of nations is taking things further, adopting ‘climate constitutionalism’ and thereby placing themselves at the forefront of expressing climate concerns in the language of constitutional rights, as this commentary explains. Read more

Repeat Beat Poet has been in residency with us here at the Grantham Research Institute at LSE as part of... Read more

In this blog post Joana Setzer and Catherine Higham consider the significance of recent climate related court cases against governments and corporations. Read more

In this interview for a German magazine Joana Setzer discusses the apparent rise of climate change related lawsuits worldwide. Die Elektrizitätswerke... Read more

Catherine Higham and Joana Setzer summarise how climate litigation is affecting the private sector, drawing on their recent report, Global Trends in Climate Litigation: 2021 snapshot. Read more

This in-depth article looks at the history and recent developments in climate justice. The article includes quotes from Joana Setzer who discusses the apparent rise of climate litigation cases. Read more

Joana Setzer, Catherine Higham and Vibha Mohan provide evidence to complement the OECD’s own ‘stocktake’ of the Guidelines for MNEs by reviewing key developments in understanding of responsible conduct in the climate context, drawing on important climate litigation cases. Read more

This article considers a court case in Germany involving electricity provider RWE who are being sued for climate change damages.... Read more

This article looks into the case of a group of teenagers who filed a case with Australia’s highest court against... Read more

This article reports on recent climate related lawsuits against companies and governments. The article includes and interview from Joana Setzer.... Read more

This article for the ‘Fix the Planet’ section of New Scientist magazine considers reflects on recent climate related lawsuits against... Read more

This news article reports on recent climate related court cases against multi national companies in both Germany and the Netherlands.... Read more

This commentary presents the international investment law scenario in which climate-related ‘Investor-State Dispute Settlement’, or ISDS, cases are emerging, identifies the main types of ISDS cases, and considers some reasons why ISDS is relevant for climate litigation and climate policies. Read more

This editorial article in The Guardian reflects on a recent court ruling against Shell over its carbon emissions. The article... Read more

This news article reports that three major oil companies were successfully challenged by both courts and shareholders over their carbon... Read more

This news article reports on a series of challenges against big oil companies by both shareholders and the courts. The... Read more

This article reflects on how shareholders, customers and the courts are challenging major oil companies to act on climate change.... Read more

This Sky News report considers a landmark court ruling against Shell and includes an interview with Joana Setzer. Read more

This news report for CNN considers a number of recent climate related court cases that have been brought forward by... Read more

This article for The Economist considers a recent ruling by  Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court which declared Germany’s climate-change law partly... Read more

This article for the New Statesman’s Capital Monitor considers the impact of climate litigation on private sector companies. Read more

This commentary by Joana Setzer and Délton Carvalho considers a lawsuit: Institute of Amazonian Studies (IEA) v. Brazil filed in... Read more

This article considers the discrepancy between what countries, such as Spain, signed up to in the Paris Agreement on climate change and the policies of national governements. The article is based on an interview with the Grantham Research Institute's climate litigation expert, Joana Setzer. Read more

This article considers the longterm economic feasibility of large scale airport expansion projects. The article includes comments by Joanna Setzer... Read more

ARTE, 22 February 2021 This news report for French television looks at the country’s ‘climate and resilience’ bill which has... Read more

This article considers the implications of a court case brought against Royal Dutch Shell in the Netherlands. If the case is successful it could force the company to sharply reduce its carbon emissions. The article also looks at the growing number of climate litigation cases against companies and companies as analysed in a recent study by the Grantham Research Institute at LSE. Read more

Though the Bolsonaro government’s approach to land-use and the environment has intensified damage to Brazil’s crucial biological communities, a growing fightback... Read more

The first climate case to reach the Supreme Court in Brazil - brought by four opposition parties - had its public hearing in September. Joana Setzer, who made a presentation to the hearing, reports from the Court and considers the case’s wider significance. Read more

This Special Report in The Economist considers whether courtrooms are becoming the new battleground in climate activism. The article includes... Read more

During a global pandemic it is easy to overlook other impending threats, such as climate change. COVID-19 struck at a critical time for international action against climate change and has interrupted its momentum – hopefully only temporarily. Read more

Is climate litigation against so-called “Carbon Majors” capable of changing behaviour and guiding climate change-responsive adjudication in the long term?... Read more

The Grantham Research Institute has contributed to a new report on the transition to a low-carbon economy, published by Lloyd’s... Read more

In advance of the final judgement in the landmark Urgenda v. State of the Netherlands climate litigation case, this commentary shines the spotlight on whether human rights can serve as a basis for obliging states to reduce their emissions, and on the justifications behind the minimum 25 per cent emissions cut stipulated by the Hague District Court. Read more

Joana Setzer discusses the case of a 24 year-old Brisbane man is taking legal action against his superannuation fund for not factoring climate change into its investment decision. Read more

Joana Setzer says it is likely that more and more litigation cases will go beyond environmental law, delving into tax and commercial law, or going after subsidies the companies have taken. Read more

Nature.com report on the analysis of climate litigation cases worldwide, noting that citizens and organizations have filed more than 1,300 lawsuits related to climate change in at least 28 countries around the world. Read more

he findings of the report also feature as one of the lead stories on the CNN homepage. Read more

Joana Setzer comments on new research which shows that there have been more than 1,300 legal actions over global heating brought since 1990 Read more

The Times Law reported the findings that legal actions over failure to act on climate change have kicked off in at least 28 countries. Read more

As the implementation guidelines to the Paris Agreement are negotiated at COP24, this commentary asks whether and to what extent they will include human rights language, and reviews examples from around the world of how human rights issues are gaining more prominence in relation to climate action. Read more

On 6 to 8 November 2018, LSE will be hosting the UK hearings of the Philippines-initiated inquiry seeking to attribute the impacts of climate change to the 'Carbon Majors' - the world’s largest fossil fuel and cement producers. This commentary provides some background to the hearings. Read more

Last week families from across the EU launched the first strategic climate court case against the European Union (EU). Some... Read more

Independent, 2 June 2017 Read more

Our annual round-up about global climate legislation delivered at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change intersessional conference in... Read more

France24, Sébastian Seibt, 10 May 2017 Read more

A recent study from the Grantham Research Institute found that the mere existence of Paris had prodded dozens of countries to enact new clean-energy laws. Read more

Nations around the world have adopted more than 1,200 laws to curb climate change, up from about 60 two decades ago, a sign of widening efforts to limit rising temperatures, according to a new study. Read more

Quebec Huffington Post, 10 May 2017 Read more