By David Blake, Christa Dommers, and Michael Bauer (April 4, 2012)

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have become more aware of their impact on the environment. In more recent years, as the impact of human activities has been studied, people around the world have become more demanding that the planet needs to be protected. They have become resolute that something must be done to save natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce waste. These sustainability goals have been captured in the “green” movement. Countries, counties, cities, towns, and other localities have enacted legislation to foster these goals, while government and private organizations, like the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Green Building Council, have made it their mission to accomplish these goals. In our litigious society, these new laws and goals also have spawned new bases for lawsuits. The goal of this article is to provide information on “green” litigation.