Four roles for geoscientists in climate litigation

The number of climate change lawsuits is exploding,  and so is the need for scientific evidence on climate change in courtrooms. Here we identify four roles that climate researchers can take up in light of these recent developments: expert witness, party support, amicus curiae, and litigation-relevant research. For each role, we highlight recent examples and best practices, as well as pitfalls and their overcoming. These examples overall highlight the urgent need for interdisciplinary research between climate science and legal scholars to bring both research communities closer together. In addition, and in activities where exchange with litigators takes place, it is critical that ingestion of scientific information occurs right from the start of the litigation process.