As global political momentum for climate action stalls, legal activists and Gen Z plaintiffs are increasingly turning to international and domestic courts to force emissions cuts.
International Legal Bodies Establish New Climate Obligations
Over the past two years, international legal bodies have affirmed that countries hold clear obligations to address climate change. Fresh judicial guidance issued by the International Court of Justice, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has established novel legal standards. A fourth opinion is expected from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. While these opinions are not always binding in the same manner as a contentious judgment, they are already being integrated into national legal arguments.
Legal experts suggest this creates a tightening net
for both states and major fossil fuel corporations. Margaret Young, a law professor at the University of Melbourne, observed that climate change litigation is growing both domestically and internationally.
Paris Court Orders TotalEnergies to Include Product Emissions
The impact of this legal trend is visible in recent rulings against major energy companies. In June 2025, a Paris court ordered TotalEnergies to include emissions associated with the use of its products in its corporate vigilance plan. The court specifically cited an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice to support its decision.
This ruling, which is currently under appeal, highlights the central challenge in modern climate litigation: determining how far a company’s responsibility extends beyond its own direct operations. Pacific Island law students spent seven years running a campaign that helped secure an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on states’ obligations to address climate change. As the world edges closer to dangerous climate tipping points, youth mobilization is also examined in recent works such as the book by Ranga Kalansooriya, which explores citizen movements across Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Indonesia.
Future Rulings in the Netherlands and Beyond
In 2027, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands will deliver a verdict in a heavily scrutinized lawsuit filed by the environmental organization Milieudefensie against Shell, determining if the multinational energy corporation must meet a mandatory emissions-reduction goal. Norway's Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on licenses for projects in the North Sea.
Other active legal battles are testing the limits of corporate liability for climate-related damages. Last year, German courts advanced in that direction during proceedings initiated by Peruvian agricultural worker Saul Luciano Lliuya against the utility provider RWE. Comparable legal challenges are currently underway across multiple nations, featuring complaints filed in the United Kingdom by Filipino survivors of Typhoon Odette against Shell, in Switzerland by community members from Pari island in Indonesia against the cement manufacturer Holcim, and in Germany by Pakistani agriculturalists impacted by the 2022 floods against both RWE and Heidelberg Materials. At the same time, environmental campaigners have experienced various reversals, including dismissed oil company lawsuits in the United States and legislative changes in New Zealand enacted by the government to halt a legal challenge mounted by Maori activist Mike Smith against six local corporations, though he remains committed to pursuing the battle.
The Role of Youth and Communication in Legal Strategy
Beyond the courtroom, advocates are emphasizing the power of storytelling to counter disinformation campaigns that often target climate science. We’re really fighting a war of misinformation, disinformation and this is why communication is really important, storytelling elements and the power of young people,
Professor Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood stated.
Climate advocates must compete for attention while dealing with campaigns designed to weaken trust in the science. Urging vigilance against well-funded opposition, she noted that opponents pour money into disinformation campaigns and advised that advocates must play the same game smartly without abandoning accuracy.
Legal momentum continues to build as national governments face increased scrutiny. Over the past decade, successful court challenges led by legal campaigners against multiple national governments have prompted the implementation of greener policies throughout nations such as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Pakistan, South Korea, and others, alongside a decision by Australia’s highest court to halt a New South Wales coal mine extension.
As the international legal framework evolves, the intersection of youth activism, public storytelling, and judicial intervention continues to redefine how accountability is established for greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.