African Physical Geography (Pure - Earth Science) | 04 April 2013
Climate Change Litigation and Environmental Law Enforcement in South Africa: A Systematic Review
N, t, h, a, l, i, w, e, M, a, b, a, s, o
Abstract
Climate change litigation in South Africa has gained prominence as a tool for environmental governance and enforcement. A comprehensive search strategy was employed using databases such as Web of Science and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were articles published between and that discussed climate change litigation and environmental law enforcement in South Africa. Studies were reviewed by two independent reviewers to ensure quality control. Findings indicate a significant increase in the number of climate change-related lawsuits filed since , with over 60% involving water resources cases. The review highlights the growing role of litigation as an effective mechanism for enforcing environmental laws and addressing climate impacts. However, challenges persist regarding legal precedents and stakeholder cooperation. Policy makers should consider strengthening legal frameworks to support climate change litigation and enhance public engagement in environmental protection efforts. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.