Fear of litigation has rocketed to the top of directors and company executives’ concerns about climate-related risk amid a flurry of domestic and international lawsuits accusing corporations of “greenwashing” to conceal emissions or climate inaction, experts say.

“Litigation risk has popped right up to the top of the pile very quickly for boards. Even a few months ago it was all about reputational damage and a little bit of financial risk, now it’s all about litigation risk,” PwC environmental, social, governance leader Jon Chadwick says.