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26. Februar 2020
Disputes Quick Read – 87 von 103 Insights
Disputes quick read: climate change activism by litigation
Climate change activism is more than Extinction Rebellion gluing themselves to bridges: activism by litigation is increasingly common. There have been over a thousand cases filed in as many as 33 countries, including the UK.
In a landmark decision in 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled in Urgenda that the government has a legal duty in accordance with its obligations under the ECHR to prevent dangerous climate change, and must reduce its emissions by 25% (compared to 1990 levels). There are similar cases underway across Europe, and we expect many more constitutional/human rights challenges to be brought in the near future.
Last week, the IBA published a Model Statute which seeks to assist citizens when it comes to holding governments to account. The IBA suggests the Statute can be adopted by nations in whole or in part, or simply be used as a resource for participants in cases. The Model Statute primarily focuses on process and providing a pathway to litigation, addressing issues such as disclosure, costs and expert evidence.
The English courts are unlikely to alter their CPR rules which address the same issues. In our view, the Model Statute's greater value lies in identifying potential avenues for challenge in the future – for example, whether climate change has been considered in Environmental Impact Assessments (Article 10).
While the Model Statute only envisages claims against the government, we do think private companies can also expect to face an uptick in claims, with claimants or groups of claimants seeking compensation for loss or damage. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its more litigious culture, this is already happening in the US, and often litigation trends there foreshadow developments in the UK.
For now, at least in this jurisdiction, it would seem any claim for damages in English courts would face challenges. The most significant of these is establishing a causal link between a source or instance of emission and its effect on the climate. There are also issues relating to any loss suffered by an individual, or class of individuals. Finally, citizens themselves are at least partially responsible for climate change.
This may soon change: scientific advancements could allow claimants to attribute the impact of specific projects on – for example, extreme weather events.
Regulation could also develop, particularly as the Paris Agreement is now in effect, and the UK works towards its 2050 net zero emissions target. Last week, the FRC announced a major review of how companies and auditors assess and report on the impact of climate change. This could plausibly lead to further reporting obligations, prompting regulatory proceedings or claims by activist shareholders.
That's not to say climate change should not be a current consideration for companies. An obvious example where a company could face a claim is where it has secured investment and funding based on an inaccurate assessment or incomplete disclosure of its environmental impact.
The message to take away is that if your company hasn't already started assessing its climate change risk and putting in place a strategy to deal with it, perhaps now is the time to start.
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Collective actions impacting big tech - Ireland set to test the boundaries in ICCL v Microsoft
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Non-Disclosure Agreements - updated guidance from the SRA
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Essex Cricket Club charged by Cricket Regulator
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UK introduces mandatory reimbursement rules to combat APP fraud
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Notice of Claim: What constitutes 'reasonable detail'?
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New SFO Director announces bold plans to tackle fraud
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ClientEarth v FCA: Challenging Regulator Decisions
12. Februar 2024
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First of its kind judicial guidance on the use of AI in the courts
14. Dezember 2023
Witness familiarisation - does it affect the court's assessment of witness credibility?
13. Dezember 2023
CAT to hear the first application for a collective settlement approval order
17. Oktober 2023
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Pre-Action Protocols – what is different?
12. September 2023
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Failure to prevent fraud – a new offence?
14. August 2023
von mehreren Autoren
Supreme Court rules that APP fraud victims cannot rely on Quincecare Duty
4. August 2023
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The Law Commission's Consultation Process on the Arbitration Act 1996 – taking stock
21. Juli 2023
What does the latest decision of the CAT in the Mastercard/Visa proceedings mean for class actions?
10. Juli 2023
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Disputes Quick Read: ClientEarth refused permission to pursue directors of Shell
1. Juni 2023
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Disputes Quick Read – developments in the fixed costs regime
3. Mai 2023
von James Bryden
Disputes Quick Read: Service by email – are the rules any clearer?
20. April 2023
von James Bryden
Disputes Quick Read: Breaking the north/south divide?
5. April 2023
von Tom Charnley
Disputes Quick Read - What do practitioners think about making alternative dispute resolution (ADR) compulsory?
8. März 2023
Disputes Quick Read: What are the litigation trends for 2023?
2. März 2023
von Katie Chandler, Emma Allen
Disputes Quick Read: further guidance on witness statement preparation rules
14. Februar 2023
Disputes Quick Read: A cautionary tale – settlement agreement (un)wittingly releases all claims for fraud
13. Februar 2023
Disputes Quick Read: Why the UK should join the Hague Judgments Convention 2019
8. Februar 2023
von Jessie Prynne
Disputes Quick Read: extensive information orders granted against crypto exchanges following hack
19. Januar 2023
von Georgina Jones
Disputes Quick Read: A new approach to giving evidence? WhatsApp with that?
3. Oktober 2022
von Gemma Broughall
Disputes Quick Read: Ethereum Merge - what legal issues arise?
22. September 2022
von Emma Allen
Disputes Quick Read: New obligations on cryptobusinesses to report under the UK sanctions regime
9. August 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: Disclosure - What information can be redacted?
25. Juli 2022
Disputes Quick Read: what claims exist when a smart contract is breached?
6. Juli 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: New gateway for serving Norwich Pharmacal Orders and Bankers Trust orders out of the jurisdiction
Welcome news for those pursuing fraud claims in the English Courts
28. Juli 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: Defining the duty - the limits of the responsibility assumed by professionals
27. Juli 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: Climate change litigation – successful challenge to government's Net Zero Strategy
29. Juli 2022
von Jess Thomas, Lucy Waddicor
Disputes Quick Read: Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 – now in force
17. Juni 2022
von Stephanie High
Disputes Quick Read: an important reminder of the duty to disclose electronic documents in native format
13. Juni 2022
Disputes Quick Read: ENRC prevails in claim against former solicitor
26. Mai 2022
Disputes Quick Read: Climate change litigation update – McGaughey v Universities Superannuation Scheme Limited
31. Mai 2022
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Don't lose your keys: Bitcoin developers do not have a duty to assist owners in recovering lost cryptocurrency
4. April 2022
von Emma Allen
Disputes Quick Read: The new witness statement preparation rules – a year on
5. April 2022
von Stephanie High
Disputes Quick Read: ClientEarth v Shell – climate change litigation shifts focus to UK companies
31. März 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: High Court rules that failure to provide adequate data security is not a positive act
21. September 2021
von Matthew Caskie
Disputes Quick Read: Key changes to the Disclosure Pilot Scheme
13. September 2021
Disputes Quick Read: Judicial Review and Courts Bill – unpacking the UK government's proposed amendments
6. September 2021
von Stephanie High
Disputes Quick Read: Will litigants be compelled to participate in alternative dispute resolution?
2. August 2021
Disputes Quick Read: Freezing injunctions – maximum custodial sentence imposed for breach
21. Juli 2021
Disputes Quick Read: The online future of civil justice – the end of the legal profession or the end of legal drudgery?
15. Juli 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: Will the courts change forever post-COVID?
26. Mai 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: One Blackfriars administrators cleared of misfeasance
5. Mai 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: Not your prerogative – the Independent Review of Administrative Law reports its recommendations on judicial review
21. April 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: Amendments to the Disclosure Pilot Scheme – a step in the right direction
31. März 2021
Disputes Quick Read: UK Supreme Court rules on the territorial extent of the SFO's powers
26. Februar 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: No dropping anchor – parent company liability for environmental claims
24. Februar 2021
Disputes Quick Read: What lawyers need to know about new witness statement preparation rules
20. Januar 2021
von Stephanie High
Disputes Quick Read: Should you still choose the English courts to have jurisdiction in your international contracts after Brexit?
12. Januar 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: Privilege lost in the EU post-Brexit (with exceptions)
23. November 2020
Disputes Quick Read: Law on interest applicable to US dollar awards reaffirmed
16. Oktober 2020
Disputes Quick Read: Care required when drafting SPA claim notices
23. September 2020
von Stuart Broom
Disputes Quick Read: Why the modernised LCIA rules are a welcome update
7. Oktober 2020
von Nick Storrs
Disputes Quick Read: government guidance for contracts impacted by COVID-19
12. Mai 2020
Disputes quick read: Mandatory changes to Statements of Truth
18. Mai 2020
von Katie Chandler
Disputes Quick Read: COVID-19 and supply chain disruption – key issues
9. April 2020
von mehreren Autoren
Disputes Quick Read: High Court orders parties to explore options for 5-week remote trial
15. April 2020
Disputes Quick Read: Tomlin Orders – ensuring the confidentiality of settlement terms
27. April 2020
Disputes Quick Read: UK's OFSI fines Standard Chartered Bank £20 million for sanctions breaches
21. April 2020
von Stephanie High
Disputes Quick Read: A different approach to witness evidence
11. März 2020
von James Bryden
Disputes Quick Read: Coronavirus - a growth in virtual courts?
17. März 2020
von Stuart Broom
Disputes quick read: climate change activism by litigation
26. Februar 2020
von Tim Strong, Andrew Howell
Disputes Quick Read: Commercial Court's arbitral power shift
21. Februar 2020
von Andrew Howell
Disputes Quick Read: Court stays evictions during COVID-19 – is this lawful?
2. Juni 2020
von Georgina Jones
Disputes Quick Read: Will the civil justice system change forever post COVID-19?
16. Juni 2020
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Disputes Quick Read: Privilege waiver warning
2. Juli 2020
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Disputes Quick Read: Retailers reign supreme in Visa and Mastercard proceedings
9. Juli 2020
Disputes Quick Read: The contra proferentem rule reconsidered?
21. Juli 2020
Disputes Quick Read: Scope of duty and the SAAMCo counterfactual following Manchester Building Society
3. Dezember 2021
Disputes Quick Read: Facilitating transactions in cryptoassets - Lord Leggatt and the point of commercial law
24. November 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: Privy Council clarifies the law on freezing injunctions in aid of foreign proceedings
8. Oktober 2021
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Disputes Quick Read: Climate change litigation – what's the latest?
10. Januar 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: Court decisions on the Disclosure Pilot Scheme – the 2021 roundup
20. Januar 2022
von Natalia Faekova
Disputes Quick Read: Climate change litigation update
8. März 2022
von Jess Thomas, Lucy Waddicor
Disputes Quick Read: Assumption of responsibility - tax schemes and investors
22. März 2022
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Disputes Quick Read: Dealing in crypto? Be careful what you call it
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