The Law and Science of Climate Change Attribution

Lead PI: Radley M. Horton , Michael Burger , Jessica Wentz

Unit Affiliation: Ocean and Climate Physics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)

Unit Affiliation: Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

December 2019 - November 2022
Inactive
North America ; United States
Project Type: Research

DESCRIPTION: In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of lawsuits seeking to hold governments and private actors accountable for failure to take action on climate change. Climate change attribution science—which examines the causal links between human activities, global climate change, and the impacts of climate change—plays a central role in many of these lawsuits. Attribution science is rapidly evolving, both in regards to attributing impacts and extreme events to climate change and in attributing greenhouse gas emissions to particular actors—and so too is its role in the courtroom and in policymaking. Armed with a growing body of evidence linking increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to specific harmful impacts, plaintiffs are pursuing more ambitious claims against governments and emitters for their contribution to, or failure to take action on, climate change.

The Law and Science of Climate Change Attribution examines how attribution science is used in litigation and in policymaking, and how litigation and policymaking might influence current and future directions in attribution science.

OUTCOMES: Climate Attribution Database: https://climateattribution.org/

SPONSOR:

High Tide Foundation

KEYWORDS

climate law climate change climate policy climate legislation

THEMES

Modeling and Adapting to Future Climate

RELATED ARTICLES

Feb 11, 2025

Columbia Climate School Launches First M.S. in Climate Finance Program in the United States

A new interdisciplinary degree will drive impactful solutions to the climate crisis through advanced financial tools and scientific knowledge.

Feb 11, 2025

Celebrating the 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science

In honor of this year’s STEM theme, we highlight just a few examples of the exceptional women scientists from the Columbia Climate School.

Feb 07, 2025

A Climate Change Signal in the Tropical Pacific

Research from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has the world’s climate scientists rethinking their models.

Feb 06, 2025

A Climate and Society Student Seeks a Common Language Between Science and Policy

Lina Maria Villegas, a former linguist, is now channeling her curiosity and passion for environmentalism at the Climate School.

Feb 05, 2025

Huge Areas May Face Possibly Fatal Heat Waves if Warming Continues

Even healthy young adults may not be able to survive unless they can access artificial cooling.

Jan 31, 2025

Mount Rainier White-Tailed Ptarmigan Finally Receives a ‘Threatened’ Species Designation

While the recent listing marks a win for the species after a 14-year wait, the bird faces an uncertain future in a warming world,

Jan 30, 2025

A Climate Change Adaptation Expert on How To Reduce Fire Risk

Reducing fire risk will require a foundational rethinking of where we build and how.

Jan 28, 2025

Who Should Be Responsible for Used Clothing?

Should fashion brands be accountable for the nearly 13 million tons of textile waste Americans produce every year? New legislation says yes.

Jan 22, 2025

Sabin Center’s Online Tracking Tools Monitor Government Actions on Climate Change

Since 2017, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law has documented policies that restrict or expand initiatives in science and climate.

Jan 22, 2025

Art as Witness: Honoring Iceland’s Changing Glacial Landscape

Artists Peter Bremers and Jim Schantz discuss their glacial artworks inspired by a journey to Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park.