Trump's Climate Agenda Faces Intensifying Courtroom Resistance Across US
Climate policy disputes are increasingly shifting into courts.
A growing wave of climate-related lawsuits is emerging worldwide in response to efforts by governments to roll back environmental regulations, with the United States leading the trend following policy changes introduced under President Donald Trump, according to a new global analysis of climate litigation released on Thursday. Researchers say the legal actions reflect an increasing effort by environmental groups, advocacy organisations, and citizens to preserve existing climate protections rather than seek new ones.
The report found that President Trump's moves to weaken or reverse federal environmental regulations have triggered an unprecedented number of court challenges aimed at defending climate-related policies. According to the analysis, these so-called “protective” climate lawsuits are designed to prevent the dismantling of regulations, commitments, and environmental safeguards that have already been established. Researchers noted that this category of litigation has grown significantly compared with Trump's first term in office and now represents a substantial portion of climate-related legal activity in the United States.
Joana Setzer, a co-author of the report and a researcher at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics, said climate advocates have increasingly turned to the courts in response to policy reversals. She noted that the climate movement has adapted its legal strategy, focusing more on defending existing protections against deregulation efforts. According to the report, approximately one in five new climate cases filed in the United States during 2025 fell into this category, highlighting the growing importance of litigation as a tool for safeguarding environmental measures.
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The report also found that similar legal battles are unfolding beyond the United States. A significant number of climate-related cases challenging deregulation or the weakening of environmental commitments were filed in Europe, Brazil, and other jurisdictions during 2025. Researchers described the scale of these cases as “without precedent,” suggesting that courts around the world are becoming increasingly important arenas for disputes over climate policy. The findings indicate that climate litigation is no longer confined to efforts to secure stronger action but is increasingly focused on preventing backsliding by governments and corporations.
Climate-related lawsuits have expanded rapidly over the past decade as activists, communities, and environmental organisations seek greater accountability from both governments and businesses. Courts have been asked to rule on issues ranging from greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel production to corporate climate commitments and national climate strategies. Many of these cases argue that inadequate climate action poses risks to public health, ecosystems, and future generations, making legal intervention necessary when policymakers fail to act.
The broader legal landscape continues to evolve alongside growing international attention to climate change. Last year, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark ruling affirming that states have obligations under international law to address climate change. Meanwhile, national courts continue to hear major climate cases, including a closely watched decision in France involving energy giant TotalEnergies and its environmental responsibilities. Researchers behind the latest report say the rise of protective climate litigation is likely to remain a key trend through 2026 as governments, businesses, and advocacy groups increasingly clash over the future of climate policy and regulation.
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