On January 9, as deadly wildfires raged across the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of structures and displacing tens of thousands of residents, Columbia University hosted the first day of its Attribution Science and Climate Law Conference. Co-organized by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Columbia Climate School, the conference brought together scientists, legal experts, policymakers and advocates to explore how advancements in climate attribution science can shape litigation, policy and governance.
Attribution science is a rapidly evolving field that aims to explain how human-induced climate change intensifies and influences the frequency of extreme weather events. The destruction unfolding in California offers yet another reminder of the urgency of these discussions, and the critical need for science-driven legal and policy solutions to the climate crisis.