Law Commons^™

Expertise Scientifique Et Lien De Causalité Dans Le Cadre Du Contentieux Climatique: Le Point De Vue De La Doctrine Américaine, Michael Burger

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Au cours des dernières années, il y a eu une augmentation remarquable du nombre d’actions judiciaires visant à demander aux Gouvernements et aux acteurs privés de rendre des comptes de leur inaction face aux changements climatiques. La « science de l’attribution » du changement climatique – c’est-à-dire la capacité de détecter les changements environnementaux et de les attribuer à l’augmentation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre – joue un rôle central dans bon nombre de ces actions : elle permet en effet de fonder à la fois l’attribution d’événements extrêmes au changement climatique et d’émissions de gaz à …

U.S. Climate Change Litigation In The Age Of Trump: Year One, Dena P. Adler

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

In its first year, the Trump Administration undertook a program of extensive climate change deregulation. The Administration delayed and initiated the reversal of rules that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary and mobile sources; sought to expedite fossil fuel development, including in previously protected areas; delayed or withdrew energy efficiency standards; undermined consideration of climate change in environmental review; and hindered adaptation to the impacts of climate change. However, the Trump Administration’s efforts have met with constant resistance, with those committed to climate protections bringing legal challenges to many, if not most, of the rollbacks.

This paper seeks to …

Holding Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable For Their Contribution To Climate Change: Where Does The Law Stand?, Michael Burger, Jessica A. Wentz

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

The judge who called for a climate tutorial in a federal court in San Francisco accepted the science that says that human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide play the central role in rising average global temperatures, increased sea levels, and coastal flooding – but threw out a lawsuit calling for financial reparations from the oil companies for causing these problems. Why? And what might the decision mean for other cases in other states, along similar lines, that are still in the works? Two environmental lawyers, one of whom was in the courtroom for the tutorial, explain.

Turning The Tide In Coastal And Riverine Energy Infrastructure Adaptation: Can An Emerging Wave Of Litigation Advance Preparation For Climate Change?, Dena P. Adler

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

A new wave of “failure to adapt” lawsuits has sought to clarify how a changing climate may change what reasonable preparations governments and private actors must take, including increasing the resilience of their infrastructure. These suits span constitutional, tort, and statutory law more broadly, but unprepared owners of energy infrastructure may risk additional violations under environmental law due to unpermitted releases of air and water pollution during extreme weather events for which they are not adequately prepared. This piece will specifically consider recent legal and administrative suits that may indicate shifting legal responsibilities for coastal and riverine energy infrastructure owners …

L’Évolution Des Actions En Justice Climatique Aux États-Unis, De George W. Bush À Donald Trump, Michael B. Gerrard

Faculty Scholarship

Les États-Unis ont plus de procès sur le climat que tous les autres pays dumonde réunis. La nature du litige a tendance à varier selon le parti qui détient la Maison Blanche. Pendant les administrations démocrates (Barack Obama), les poursuites ont tendance à être intentées par des sociétés industrielles et des États à tendance républicaine, alléguant que le Gouvernement fédéral en fait trop pour lutter contre le changement climatique. Pendant les administrations républicaines (George W. Bush, Donald J. Trump), la plupart des poursuites sont intentées par des groupes environnementaux et des États démocrates, alléguant que le Gouvernement fédéral en fait …