‘Climate washing’ lawsuits jump as more activists challenge corporate claims, report shows

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) – “Climate washing” litigation has risen sharply in the last two years as environmental groups and governments grow frustrated with corporate claims about their contribution to tackling climate change, a report published on Thursday showed.

The report, compiled by London’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, defines ‘climate washing’ as cases that challenge companies, and occasionally governments, over misinformation or misleading green claims.

In the last year, 26 climate washing cases were filed globally against companies, down slightly from 27 in 2021, but up sharply from the previous two years, the institute said in its annual report on climate litigation trends.