By an order dated July 21, 2025, the Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed for the first time the jurisdiction of Italian courts in a climate dispute pending before the Court of Rome.
More specifically, the jurisdiction of the Italian courts was confirmed in the first proceedings on the merits brought by environmental associations and private citizens against a private company active in the production and distribution of fossil fuels (ENI spa) and its controlling shareholders (the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti) and concerning an action in tort for damages suffered as a result of climate change arising from the failure to comply with the obligation to adopt measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions under international conventions.
In particular, the ruling in question confirmed the jurisdiction of the Italian court also in relation to claims for damages caused abroad, since:
i) the plaintiffs claimed that the parent company with registered office in Italy was liable for the activities carried out by the subsidiaries abroad and that it had failed to adopt an industrial and commercial strategy suitable for ensuring the reduction of CO₂ emissions;
ii) the place where the damage claimed by the plaintiffs (violation of the right to private and life and to family life) occurred is identified as the place where they live (Italy).
The ruling in question thus guarantees effective judicial protection in climate matters, paving the way for a surge in cases relating to climate change litigation, especially against private companies responsible for human rights violations linked to the climate crisis.
