Courts are becoming key players in climate action, with nearly 3,000 cases filed worldwide by mid-2025. Judicial intervention addresses gaps left by weak political enforcement, as seen in landmark cases like Urgenda and Lliuya. Using human rights and tort law, courts hold governments and companies accountable without making policy. Critics’ concerns about overreach are countered by courts’ reliance on expert evidence. Strengthening climate litigation requires specialized climate courts, clear legal targets, and corporate risk integration. The article argues that judicial oversight is essential to turn climate promises into real action.
