The IPCC is a global synthesis of climate science, which has consensus for its publication by 159 nations. Nearly two thirds of industrial carbon emissions from the industrial revolution onward can be traced to just 90 of the largest fossil fuel and cement producers. A new study takes a really significant step forward by connecting emissions from the world's largest carbon producers to fire prone conditions in burned areas. The findings revealed that nearly 40% of the total area burned by forest fires in the western US and southwestern Canada since 1986 can be attributed to these major carbon producers.
The last several years have seen a big increase in the number of lawsuits focused on the climate crisis. Some lawsuits challenge governments for their support for fossil fuels and for their failure to take climate action, while other cases target the fossil fuel companies themselves for knowingly misleading the world about the climate disrupting impacts of burning their products. Some of these cases seek monetary damages, others seek to hold governments accountable to their emissions reduction pledges. As more of these cases get their time in court, how powerful can litigation be in forcing action around the climate emergency?
Guests:
Delta Merner, Lead Scientist, Science Hub for Climate Litigation, Union of Concerned Scientists
Korey Silverman-Roati, Senior Fellow, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
Lucy Maxwell, Co-Director, Climate Litigation Network, Urgenda Foundation
For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts
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