Adjudicating Climate Change

'Climate change stands as the critical environmental issue of our era. Yet governmental efforts to respond … have been halting at best, particularly in the United States. In the face of inaction and an inadequate response by legislatures and executive branch officials, the judiciary has stepped into the breach. As Burns and Osofsky – and the extraordinary team of authors they have assembled – explain, the most effective push for climate change policy action has come from courts. With a review of key cases at the state, national, and international levels, [this book] tells the story of these lawsuits, exploring the underlying legal theories, the litigants who pursued the actions, the decisions rendered, and the resulting policy impact. Bravo! A 'must-read' for students, policymakers, environmental group advocates, business leaders, and researchers.' Dan Esty, Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University
'There is a growing realization that courts have an important role to play in addressing climate change along side of legislatures and international bodies. This book provides a thorough and thoughtful survey of the legal landscape in this rapidly emerging area of litigation.' Dan Farber, Sho Sato Professor of Law and Chair, Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley
'Every profession is being called upon to stretch its capabilities to address the all-engulfing problem of climate change. The legal profession is struggling to find the appropriate roles for courts, legislatures and executives, and to fill in the gaps when one branch (or country) lags behind. [Burns and Osofsky] have performed a great service by boldly going forth and assembling a formidable collection of cutting-edge theories on what might be done by the courts – U.S., foreign and international. As with most collections of innovations, many will flop, but some may fly. The seriousness and complexity of the problem make this more than worth the effort for the writers and for their readers. This book considerably advances the ball in helping us all envision how the tools of the law can be brought to bear in addressing this challenge.' Michael B. Gerrard, Director, Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
'… this volume should be of special interest to the growing ranks of public officials (and public intellectuals) venturing into what is quite simply the biggest, hardest 'environmental' problem we have ever faced: globally catastrophic climate change.' Concurring Opinions
'This outstanding volume … is a highly laudable attempt that fills this gap with the help of meticulously researched contributions by some of the leading experts. It provides an insightful survey of evolving legal landscapes in the area of litigation and raises a series of critical questions.' Sanjay Chaturved, New Zealand Yearbook of International Law