Due diligence in the climate emergency Era: holding Fossil Fuel companies accountable?

Abstract

The two main legal avenues used by the international community to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for the adverse climate impacts associated with its polluting activities are corporate climate change litigation and regulatory action through the adoption of mandatory due diligence legislation both at national, as well as EU level with a proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. The present thesis critically examines the weaknesses of both tools in shaping climate due diligence in a manner which can sufficiently strengthen corporate accountability in the climate change context, and invites a revised approach which reflects the gravity of climate change considerations in due diligence processes.