climate

An Overview of the EU's 'Fit for 55' Climate Plan

An Overview of the EU's 'Fit for 55' Climate Plan

The European Union’s executive branch, the European Commission, last week unveiled its ‘Fit for 55’ climate plan: an ambitious set of policy and regulatory proposals aimed at lowering the bloc’s net emissions by “at least” 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In this piece, we’ve put together an overview of the plan’s principal components.

Toronto Endorses Call for Fossil Non-Proliferation Treaty, Passes New Sustainable Buildings Measures

Toronto Endorses Call for Fossil Non-Proliferation Treaty, Passes New Sustainable Buildings Measures

Last week, Canada’s largest city endorsed the call for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, and approved a new green building standard and net zero existing buildings strategy, both of which will put the city “on a solid path to a net zero future.”

Dutch Court Orders Oil Giant Shell to Reduce Emissions in Historic Climate Case

Dutch Court Orders Oil Giant Shell to Reduce Emissions in Historic Climate Case

Last week, the Hague district court ordered oil giant Royal Dutch Shell to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% from 2019 levels by 2030. The ruling appears to mark the first instance of a court requiring a major corporation to lower emissions on account of their climate impact.

Ontario Youth Climate Action Case Survives Motion to Dismiss, Headed for Trial

Ontario Youth Climate Action Case Survives Motion to Dismiss, Headed for Trial

The lawsuit alleges Ontario’s provincial government, under the leadership of Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford, violated the s. 7 (life, liberty and security of the person) and s. 15 (equal protection) Charter rights of the plaintiffs and future generations when it cancelled Ontario’s cap and trade program and adopted a new, less-ambitious climate plan as compared with the previous government’s.

Court to Decide Whether Canadian Climate Action Lawsuit Proceeds

Court to Decide Whether Canadian Climate Action Lawsuit Proceeds

The case La Rose et. al. v. Her Majesty the Queen was filed last October by several young Canadian plaintiffs, with support from Oregon-based non-profit law firm Our Children’s Trust. The lawsuit alleges the Canadian government violated the plaintiffs’ rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by failing to take meaningful action to prevent anthropogenic climate change.

Irish Supreme Court Delivers Second Landmark European Climate Decision

Irish Supreme Court Delivers Second Landmark European Climate Decision

On July 31st, Ireland’s Supreme Court held that the Irish government’s current climate plan failed to meet the requirements set out in the statutory Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act of 2015. The ruling will require the government to (a) revise its plan to realise greater near-term emission reductions, and (b) better specify how Ireland will achieve the Act’s long-term objective of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.