Energy firms face rising tide of climate lawsuits – Verisk

Dutch court ruling against Shell will embolden climate activists as focus shifts from governments to corporations

Energy companies and other heavy-emitting businesses face a “rising tide” of climate lawsuits, with those operating in developed economies most at risk of legal action,  according to consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. “While governments have been the prime target of climate litigation to date, corporations whose operations—and increasingly their financial backers—are seen as directly contributing to climate change are being singled out,” Verisk says. “With 83pc of global greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuels in 2018, it is unsurprising that oil and gas, coal and electric utilities are most at risk of climate liability lawsuits.” “Any company that can demonstrate comprehensiv