Climate Judiciary Project

Guy Bowden

The Climate Judiciary Project is a first-of-its-kind effort that provides judges and the judiciary with reliable, authoritative, and trustworthy education on climate science, the impacts of climate change, and the ways climate science is arising in the law.

About CJP

Climate Science and Law For Judges

Introduction

Discover how the Climate Science and Law for Judges Curriculum was developed, explore the topics covered, and see how it can be used.

How Climate Science Works

Paul A. Hanle, Michael D. Mastrandrea

Discover the long-established scientific underpinnings of climate science, methods used to reach conclusions and consensus, and key differences between scientific and legal procedure.

What is Causing Climate Change?

Inez Y. Fung

Learn why greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are related to global temperatures and what this tells scientists about future temperatures.

The Impacts of Climate Change

Katharine J. Mach

Use a risk framework to understand the main consequences of increased heating of the planet—today and for the future.

Climate Justice

Amruta Nori-Sarma, Quinn Adams, Beth Haley, Devin O’Donnell, Katharine Teigen, Jonathan Levy

Draw on case studies to learn how some areas and populations are experiencing more severe climate impacts than others.

Risks and Costs of Climate Change

Gary W. Yohe

Gain approaches and tools for understanding the costs of climate impacts and managing risk to reduce the likelihood of future impacts.

Drawing the Causal Chain: The Detection and Attribution of Climate Change

Michael F. Wehner

Learn how scientists detect human-induced climate change and attribute long-term climate trends and extreme weather events to these changes.

Solving the Climate Change Problem

Climate Judiciary Project Team

Consider the technologies and strategies available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and envision a realistic way for humanity to cut emissions while continuing to prosper.

Overview of Climate Litigation

Sandra Nichols Thiam, Jarryd C. Page

Survey the field of climate litigation to learn about landmark decisions in the U.S. and how climate science comes up in federal and state cases.

Applying Attribution: Impacts of Climate Attribution Science on Tort Litigation

Douglas A. Kysar, Isabella Soparkar

Look at how different types of attribution science are likely to intersect with climate-related tort claims.

Government Action and Climate Science

Jessica A. Wentz

Explore how courts use climate science to review government regulations and administrative decisions, and legal obligations.

Fundamental Rights

Barry E. Hill, Jarryd C. Page

Focus on the fundamental rights implicated by climate change and the trends and legal issues judges may encounter as a result.

Procedural Techniques Available for Climate Litigation

Robin Kundis Craig

Discover specialized procedural techniques that are helpful in a variety of climate cases, particularly in tort litigation.

Judicial Remedies for Climate Disruption: A Preliminary Analysis

John C. Dernbach, Patrick A. Parenteau

Review U.S. climate cases to explore different science-based remedies related to climate mitigation and adaptation.

Curriculum Summary

Testimonials

With the growth in climate-related litigation, judges need this kind of education to be prepared to weigh scientific evidence and make better informed decisions. I commend the ELI team for its creativity, diligence, and success to date in meeting this need.

Larry Kramer

President, William + Flora Hewlett Foundation

It’s been truly a privilege. I am welcomely absorbing everything that has been brought to us and I look forward to carrying that forward and paying it forward...

Judge Sam Scheele

Lake Superior Court, Civil Division – Indiana

These cases are coming to our front door. The science is evolving, and we must ensure we have a baseline of knowledge so we’re prepared to handle the challenges these cases will present.

Justice Stacy Boulware Eurie

Third Court of Appeal - California

I’m really energized by the program.... I think it’s going to be essential. There’s a lot of information coming at us, the judiciary, that we need to understand... to be able to deal with these issues effectively.

judge participant

[Judges] need to have the scientific background to understand the science, to know what resources to look for,... to know what questions to ask people.... We have a legal need to be gatekeepers about good and bad science.

judge participant

See All

Meet the Experts

CJP experts are recognized leaders in the fields of climate science and law research, scholarship, and education.

Paul A. Hanle

Michael D. Mastrandrea

Inez Y. Fung

Katharine J. Mach

Jonathan Levy

Amruta Nori-Sarma

Gary W. Yohe

Michael F. Wehner

Sandra Nichols Thiam

Jarryd C. Page

Douglas A. Kysar

Isabella Soparkar

Jessica A. Wentz

Barry E. Hill

Robin Kundis Craig

John C. Dernbach

Patrick A. Parenteau

Quinn Adams

Beth Haley

Devin O’Donnell