Global Legal Milestones in Climate Litigation and Greenwashing in 2025
In 2025, significant global legal decisions established new precedents in climate litigation and the accountability of environmental claims.
In Scotland, the Court of Session ruled that UK approvals for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas projects were illegal due to failure to consider greenhouse gas emissions. This ruling referenced the 2024 Sarah Finch decision and influenced subsequent actions, including the rejection of the Whitehaven coal mine and updated environmental assessment guidance issued in June. Equinor revised its environmental assessment for Rosebank in October, with a decision on approval still pending. Greenpeace warned of further legal action if consent is granted.
Brazil saw the withdrawal of Copelmi's Nova Seival coal plant and Guaíba mine plans in February 2025 after licenses were suspended in 2022, effectively halting what would have been the country's largest coal plant.
Germany’s landmark Lliuya v. RWE case, often reported as a rejection, set a precedent on polluters' liability for emissions. Building on this, Pakistani farmers launched new climate damage claims against two large German polluters.
In Australia, EnergyAustralia and Parents for Climate reached a settlement in May 2025 regarding greenwashing claims affecting 400,000 customers. EnergyAustralia acknowledged that carbon offsets do not negate emissions and issued an apology, marking Australia's first case concerning carbon-neutral marketing.
July 2025 brought influential advisory opinions from key international bodies: the Inter-American Court of Human Rights recognized a right to a healthy climate, while the International Court of Justice ruled that states must prevent climate harm and may be liable for compensation. These opinions are cited in ongoing climate lawsuits and international negotiations.
New South Wales' Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion near Muswellbrook was annulled in July after the court found the planning commission failed to consider scope 3 emissions.
In August 2025, a Frankfurt court ruling determined that Apple's marketing of its Apple Watch as carbon neutral was misleading because long-term neutrality depended on short-lived carbon offsets. Apple responded by pausing its carbon-neutral marketing in other markets.
Kenya revoked the license for the Lamu coal plant in October 2025 following a ruling by the Environment and Land Court that identified flaws in the environmental assessment and public participation processes. Construction was ordered to halt pending further procedures.
Finally, in France, TotalEnergies was ordered by a Paris court to cease greenwashing practices. The court found that some of the company’s climate claims could mislead consumers about its net-zero ambitions by 2050 despite ongoing fossil fuel production. This case was brought forward by the environmental groups Les Amis de la Terre France, Greenpeace France, Notre Affaire à Tous, and ClientEarth.
These developments collectively represent growing judicial recognition of the importance of accurate environmental assessments, the accountability of polluters, and the regulation of greenwashing globally in 2025.
