Transnational Climate Due Diligence (CDD)

This work explores the existence and boundaries of 'climate due diligence' (CDD) of States and corporate actors within the context of international, human rights and domestic law in Global North jurisdictions. It demonstrates that due diligence applies to global warming because it causes serious harm and because reducing greenhouse gases remains possible. Furthermore, the study shows that CDD requires the best possible efforts to mitigate global warming, in line with scientific and institutional consensus, and that this can be enforced by the courts. A historical analysis of compliance with CDD reveals past and ongoing breaches, which may result in legal responsibility.

The thesis was awarded the Dissertation Prize by the Franco-German University.