What do climate change and class actions have in common? A lot
is happening in the Dutch jurisdiction, and courts are getting
– or taking? – far-reaching powers in resolving
collective disputes. The Dutch Supreme Court just handed down its
ruling in the Urgenda-case, confirming that the Dutch judiciary can
push the government's executive branch to control climate
change.
The world is in flames when it comes to climate change. Although
the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid failed to specify
the Climate Agreement of Paris, the EU recently did take big steps.
The EU Parliament and Member States have increased climate change
expenditure in the bloc's 2020 budget. Last week, the European
Commission launched the Green Deal, aiming to make the EU climate
neutral in 2050. Teen Activist Greta Thunberg has been selected as
TIME's Person of the Year 2019.
