Clifford Chance

ESG Development: New Climate Change Lawsuit Filed in Japan

16 December 2024

On 6 August 2024, Japan's first climate change lawsuit whose claimants are exclusively young people was filed with the Nagoya District Court. The claimants, known as Youth Climate Case Japan, seek injunctive relief to limit the CO2 emissions of 10 utility companies. This case is significant given Japan's significant use of fossil fuels, despite continued efforts by the Japanese government and major corporations towards decarbonisation. It may also represent a turning point in climate change litigation in Japan, given that the legal arguments are the first of their kind and appear to take inspiration from other jurisdictions where the courts have been more amenable to climate-related claims.

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