Latest update June 1st, 2026 12:37 AM
‘Court shield for green warriors’ — Janki tells forum environmentalists no longer face ruinous costs for losing cases
(Kaieteur News) – Legal battles are expensive—especially when ordinary citizens or small non-profits go up against deep-pocketed corporations armed with teams of high-priced lawyers. But a recent court decision has flipped the script, removing a major financial risk for those defending thee environment.
Highlighting the landmark ruling during a powerful appearance on global platform TED, international award-winning Guyanese attorney Melinda Janki told a packed room how the judgment now protects environmental litigants from being forced to pay the opposing side’s legal costs if they lose.
Int’l award-winning Lawyer, Melinda Janki during her presentation
TED, known for amplifying transformative ideas, featured Janki’s 10-minute talk—which has already racked up more than 300,000 views, chronicling her legal battles against oil giant ExxonMobil. Despite operating across the globe with limitless resources, Exxon has repeatedly been challenged in local courts by Janki and her team.
Through her multiple wins, the climate justice litigator also described how one ruling, though it was against her client, still achieved something significant. “The Judges did not give us the ruling we asked for but we still achieved something really significant. In many countries around the world, if you go to Court and you lose, you could end up paying the other side’s costs,” Janki explained.
She continued, “That could be very expensive. People might be afraid to go to court. We changed that. In our case, the Judges said, if you come to court and you are protecting the environment but you lose, you should not have to pay the cost for the other side. That makes it easier for people to go to court now and fight the oil industry.”
The Lawyer pointed out that this decision already binds five countries. To this end, she urged that the decision be used by other countries to persuade judges around the world that citizens should be able to fight for the planet and not be penalised if they lose in Court. Janki was keen to note, “We will continue to fight. We don’t have a choice; the business model for the oil industry depends upon producing greenhouse gas pollution which is a serious danger to life on earth. It’s them or us, so don’t be fooled by the big bad image of the oil industry. We have the advantage.”
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