Climate-washing litigation: legal liability for misleading climate communications

Report

This research report aims to enhance the legal community’s understanding of climate-related ‘greenwashing’ litigation. The report analyses this type of litigation, which can also be described as ‘climate-washing’ litigation, by examining key cases and developments, particularly cases and complaints brought against the largest emitters of greenhouse gases (predominantly non-state actors). The paper is designed to address the lack of examination of this specific type of litigation to date by:

・ Defining greenwashing in more detail, plus climate-washing and climate-washing litigation.
・Providing an in-depth review of actual and potential climate-washing cases, classified according to the type of misleading statements upon which such cases are based.
・Offering practical recommendations for various actors in the context of climate-washing.

Authors: Benjamin, L; Bhargava, A; Franta, B; Martínez Toral, K; Setzer, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Publisher: Climate Social Science Network
• Publication date: 2022-01-13
• Language: English