People think climate law exists to protect the environment and prevent climate change. In reality, climate law functions as a system for allocating the costs of climate change between generations, geographies, and economic sectors.

This episode reveals how climate legislation creates frameworks for distributing future suffering, adaptation burdens, and transition costs in a world where significant climate change is now inevitable.

In this episode, I explain:

• Why carbon budgets allocate future suffering rather than prevent emissions
• How adaptation requirements distribute geographical risk rather than eliminate danger
• Why transition planning allocates sectoral costs of moving to green economy
• How climate litigation allocates blame and compensation for past decisions
• Why climate finance mechanisms allocate responsibility for funding solutions

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Climate law allocates future costs, not prevents climate change
• Carbon budgets allocate permissible future suffering between generations
• Adaptation rules distribute geographical risk and protection costs
• Transition planning allocates sectoral costs of economic transformation
• Climate litigation allocates blame and compensation for historical emissions

REFERENCED TODAY:

• Climate Change Act 2008 (UK carbon budgets)
• Paris Agreement 2015 (international burden sharing)
• Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
• Climate Change Committee reports
• Various climate litigation cases (Urgenda, Shell, etc.)

DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is for general information only. It does not provide legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW:
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms