The case was brought by the coastal town of Grand-Synthe in northern France, particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures as sea levels rise.

England’s strategic road network is already responsible for more than 10 percent of the UK’s domestic carbon emissions.

Most of the lawsuits analysed did not quantify the extent to which climate change was responsible for the impacts suffered by plaintiffs, known as "attribution science".

Last week, the government said it would keep issuing new oil and gas exploration licences, contradicting recommendations from a recent high-profile report by the International Energy Agency.

How the court handles two separate cases could shape the future of climate lawsuits across the world.

The UK government has ignored campaigners' calls to refuse new licences for fossil fuel extraction in the North Sea.