Episode 50 – Understanding Attribution Science

In this episode, 39 Essex Chambers’ barristers Camilla ter Haar and Ruth Keating are joined by Dr. Yann Quilcaille. Dr. Yann Quilcaille is a climate scientist with a dual background in climate science and economics of sustainable development. His research focuses on climate extremes and climate emulators.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• Science: Attribution methods are robust and diverse, now connecting individual actors’ emissions to climate change and its impacts. However, data availability still constrains the attributions, with higher level of disaggregation requiring more data.
• Collaboration between law and science: Bridging the gap between scientific data and legal requirements demands close cooperation; lawyers should consult scientists to avoid misinterpreting concepts related to causality or uncertainties and leverage interdisciplinary networks.
• Evaluating evidence in court: Courts can assess the robustness of attribution evidence by verifying peer-reviewed methods or transparent scientific protocols while ensuring that the scientific findings are relevant to the case given its specific legal framing.