legal action

Can the law protect us from climate change?

Can the law protect us from climate change? Do we have a legal right to a stable climate? Are governments responsible for preventing dangerous climate change within their borders? One month ago I would have answered these questions with "most likely not", but one extraordinary court case changed that to "hopefully, yes!". By Erik-Jan Van Oosten.

Divestment from fossil fuels: a critical appraisal

David Knight considers four possible reasons for divestment from fossil fuels. He concludes that divestment can help to bring about changes needed to tackle the negative impacts of fossil fuel production and use, but it cannot substitute for concerted and rigorous action at international and national governmental levels to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Press release: Feasta climate group response to the Working Group 3 contribution to the IPCC’s fifth assessment report

We find the latest IPCC report's emphasis on climate as a "global commons problem" helpful and constructive. However, the economy must break its dependency on GDP growth in order to achieve emissions reduction without economic collapse. Fortunately the potential exists for significant co-benefits from climate mitigation, including poverty alleviation and reduced inequality. Grassroots legal action could help give teeth to the international institutions needed for cooperation.