Communities around the world increasingly feel the impacts of climate change, which is driving a rising global sense of urgency. By the end of 2024, according to a report published by the London School of Economics, plaintiffs had filed 2,967 climate-related cases across nearly 60 countries.
The United States, with 1,899 cases, and 164 filed in 2024 alone, is leading global climate-related litigation numbers.
Globally, plaintiffs have filed 1,068 climate-related cases to date, including 62 new cases in 2024.
Global statistics on climate litigation
- Global South: Nearly 60% of cases in Brazil, South Africa, and India have been filed since 2020. 56% of cases in 2024 were initiated by government bodies, reflecting a trend towards climate accountability in emerging economies. In Brazil, courts have required individuals responsible for illegal deforestation to pay compensation for climate damages, linking forest destruction directly to CO₂ emissions.
- International Courts: The International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued an advisory opinion in May 2024, confirming that states must reduce marine greenhouse gas emissions. Advisory opinions from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice are expected in 2025, and continue to shape global climate law.
- Apex Courts: Between 2015 and 2024, 276 cases reached supreme or constitutional courts worldwide. Examples include KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland, a landmark ruling on emissions obligations where senior women successfully argued that weak climate policy violated their rights, and Lliuya v. RWE in Germany, where the court confirmed that companies can, in principle, be held liable for climate harms.
Through these cases, we clearly see a rising global sense of urgency and a growing need to hold states and organizations that propagate harmful climate practices accountable. Litigation is becoming a powerful tool in shaping both national and international climate governance.
Canadian Cleantech leaders facing climate change
In Canada, innovators are rapidly advancing solutions that address emissions, energy storage, and sustainable infrastructure, to offset and mitigate excessive waste and emissions that harm the environment. Their work is increasingly recognized at home and abroad:
Origen Air
Offers a sustainable air purification system with the natural filtering power of plants. Their solution incorporates genetically enhanced plants designed to actively remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), paired with high-efficiency MERV filters to deliver exceptional indoor air quality.
CleanInnoGen Energy
CleanInnoGen (CIG) is commercializing a green hydrogen technology developed at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. This technology uses a thermochemical cycle to cut electricity demand and convert waste heat into hydrogen.
This innovation supports the global push toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
Svante
Svante is a global pioneer in carbon capture technology that designs filters to capture CO₂ directly from industrial sources.
Ionomr
Vancouver-based Ionomr develops next-generation membranes that reduce the cost and environmental impact of hydrogen production. These membranes offer a sustainable alternative to conventional materials and also enable fuel cell and energy storage applications.
Enersion
Enersion has created an innovative compressor-less heat pump that uses nanoporous materials and water vapor as a refrigerant to transform low-grade waste heat into heating and cooling. This technology reduces reliance on electricity, natural gas, and harmful synthetic refrigerants, offering a more cost-effective and sustainable solution.
Mangrove Lithium
Mangrove Lithium is at the forefront of developing lithium refining technologies. These innovations help create more sustainable supply chains for electric vehicle batteries.
Silfab Solar
Silfab manufactures high-efficiency solar panels for the North American market. It uses premium materials and advanced robotics in a fully automated production process.
Pani Energy
Pani has built an AI-powered platform to optimize water treatment and reduce energy usage.
pH7 Technologies
Vancouver-based pH7 develops sustainable technologies to extract platinum group metals from catalytic converters and solar panels, as well as copper from low-grade ores.
Summit Nanotech
Summit is a Calgary-based company using nanotechnology to extract lithium rapidly and sustainably, conserving freshwater, producing zero solid waste, and requiring 26 times less land.
These companies showcase the depth of Canadian experience in advancing innovative climate solutions, as well as:
- Leadership in driving the decarbonization of heavy industries
- Advancing resource efficiency
- Powering the global energy transition
Government non-dilutive funding programs support their efforts and help accelerate innovation from concept to commercialization. These programs enable companies to develop novel technologies and advance innovative solutions in the global discourse on climate change, shaping a more sustainable future.
To learn how your business can benefit, reach out to Leyton today.
