This examination of the role of litigation in addressing the problem of climate change focuses not only on how the massive and growing number of lawsuits influences regulation directly, but also on how the lawsuits shape corporate behaviour and public opinion. It provides readers with an understanding of how these lawsuits have shaped approaches to mitigation and adaptation, and have been used to try to force and to block regulation. There is a particular emphasis on lawsuits in the United States and Australia, the two jurisdictions which have had the most climate change litigation in the world, and the lessons provide broader insights into the role of courts in addressing climate change.

This book examines how litigation over climate change shapes the choices of governments, corporations and the public regarding mitigation and adaptation.

1. Why climate change litigation matters 2. Model for understanding litigation's regulatory impact 3. Litigation as a mitigation tool 4. Litigation as an adaptation tool 5. Corporate responses to litigation 6. Litigation's role in shaping social norms 7. Barriers to progress 8. The future of climate change litigation