Towards a Bundle of Duties - Shell v Milieudefensie Confirms Major Developments in Climate Change Liability

Abstract

This week’s decision in Shell v Milieudefensie from the Hague Court of Appeals seemed like a blow to climate litigation: Milieudefensie was ultimately unsuccessful in convincing the Court that it could transpose a global requirement for 45% emissions reductions by 2030 into an obligation for a particular actor. Yet, the Court of Appeals decision marks considerable progress in how we understand the civil liability of large Dutch economic actors for their contributions to climate change.

Keywords

• Climate
• Climate Crisis
• Climate Liability
• Klimaschutz
• Netherlands
• Paris Agreement