Climate Governance: Science, Responsibility and Public Decision-Making

Abstract

The article examines the relationship between climate justice, environmental democracy and law, highlighting the role of science as a foundation of public decision-making. Climate change is considered a systemic challenge affecting the structure of the rule of law and the legitimacy of public policies. By analyzing international climate soft law, the European legal framework, and Italian constitutional system, the paper illustrates the emergence of a science-based climate governance model grounded in institutional responsibility, epistemic transparency, and intergenerational justice, with an increasing role played by climate ligation and judicial dialogue.