9 June 2026, by Franziska Neigenfind

Photo: Adobe Stock

In Germany, climate lawsuits are emerging as an essential tool for achieving more climate protection. University of Hamburg sociologists Lea Frerichs and Prof. Stefan Aykut, together with legal expert Mona Andres, have created Germany’s first-ever central online database for climate lawsuits, which is now freely available. Including 221 lawsuits dating back to 2006, the platform allows NGOs, the media, academic researchers and companies to systematically research legal disputes involving climate protection and environmental law.

“We’ve seen a marked rise in the number and variety of climate lawsuits since 2022. The spectrum ranges from suits against liquid-gas terminals or automakers, to those addressing fundamental questions on federal legislation,” says Lea Frerichs. “With the database, our goal is to offer a comprehensive overview to help users understand the patterns, successes and conflicts.” Above all, the number of lawsuits on grounds of misleading advertising – also known as climate-washing cases – and suits concerning the framework conditions offered by the federal government has increased. “Though suits against firms are most often dismissed, generally we’re seeing more and more successful suits. That’s good news for climate protection, as it means those who are to blame are increasingly being held responsible.” At the same time, the database reflects criminal proceedings against climate activists and strategic lawsuits against public participation.

Based on the legal portal Juris, data from environmental organizations and international sources, the database is regularly updated and includes ongoing cases. “The goal of our platform is to achieve more transparency and promote informed debate on climate justice,” says Frerichs. The database was developed in conjunction with the study series Climate Transformation Outlook, an annually released report that documents the social dynamics and drivers of the transformation toward a climate-neutral society in Germany.

to the Climate Litgation Database (in German) 

Edited by Lea Frerichs, Mona Andres, Stefan Aykut

DOI: https://doi.org/10.25592/m1tc-sf28

to the Climate Transformation Outlook study series

Contact
Lea Frerichs, Research Associate
University of Hamburg
Mercator Endowed Chair of Sociology, in particular Social Dynamics of Ecological Transformation
Email: klimaklagen"AT"uni-hamburg.de

Franziska Neigenfind
University of Hamburg
Cluster of Excellence “Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS)
Press and Outreach
Tel: +49 40 2395-26173
Email: franziska.neigenfind"AT"uni-hamburg.de