Climate change litigation has become increasingly prevalent in South Africa as a means of addressing environmental issues exacerbated by climate change. A mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with quantitative analysis of court documents was employed to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of climate change litigation cases. Court decisions show that climate change litigation has led to significant fines for polluters, but there is variability in enforcement practices across different regions. While climate change litigation has had a notable impact on environmental law enforcement, consistent and robust implementation remains an ongoing challenge. Enhanced training for law enforcement officials and improved coordination between courts and government agencies are recommended to ensure effective legal action against polluters. The empirical specification follows Y=₀+^ X+, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.
Tšolose et al. (Tue,) studied this question.