Climate Judiciary Project

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

About CJP

Guy Bowden

Climate Science and Law For Judges

About the Curriculum

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.

Sea Level Rise

Anna Ruth Halberstadt, Mark Nevitt

Understand the causes and dynamics of sea-level rise and learn how related science shows up in the courtroom.

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.

Detection and Attribution of Climate Change

Michael F. Wehner

Supplemental Paper by John M. Doherty

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.

Overview of European Climate Litigation

Climate Judiciary Project Team

Survey European climate litigation, and find out about trends, case types, defenses, remedies, and how court decisions incorporate climate science.

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

Fast Facts Series and Slide Presentations

Small image of the Greenhouse Effect fact sheet.

Fast Facts:The Greenhouse Effect

Small image of the Climate Models Explained fact sheet.

Fast Facts:Climate Models Explained

Small image of the Consensus Climate Science fact sheet.

Fast Facts:Consensus Climate Science

Small image of the Emissions Landscape fact sheet.

Fast Facts:The Emissions Landscape

Slide Presentation: Climate Science 101

Slide Presentation: Climate Litigation 101

Resource Library

Testimonials

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

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

Former President, William + Flora Hewlett Foundation

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

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