{"id":4487,"date":"2020-04-10T17:03:35","date_gmt":"2020-04-10T22:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/climate-change-and-the-law.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T02:35:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:35:16","slug":"climate-change-and-the-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/climate-change-and-the-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Climate Change and the Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Climate Change and the Law<\/h1>\n
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\n By Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Climate change is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. The climate crisis and the impacts of climate change affect small business leaders and entrepreneurs. Stakeholders in the world’s largest companies must also address climate change.<\/p>\r\n

This article discusses climate policy, including the legal implications of climate change policies on small businesses.<\/p>\r\n

What Is Climate Change?<\/h2>\r\n

Climate risks have been on scientists’ radar for decades. According to NASA<\/a>, climate change refers to long-term changes in weather patterns on Earth.<\/p>\r\n

Since the early 1990s, greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere have risen. This traps heat and causes the Earth’s average surface temperature to increase<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Carbon dioxide<\/a> is Earth’s most important greenhouse gas. It absorbs and radiates heat. It’s necessary to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes global temperature to rise.<\/p>\r\n

When humans cause the warming, it’s called global warming. Natural processes can also contribute to climate change. This is one of the factors that makes the climate-related issue so complex.<\/p>\r\n

Shifting Public Opinion on Climate Change<\/h2>\r\n

Public opinion on the issue of climate action has evolved over the past several years. Many Americans are showing increasing concern about climate change and humans’ role. Renewable energy becomes more accessible each year.<\/p>\r\n

The private sector is making it easier for consumers to reduce energy consumption with:<\/p>\r\n