The largest Climate action suit against 32 countries

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate change

More about the news:

On September 27, a significant legal battle will commence at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, involving 32 European governments and six young Portuguese individuals aged 11 to 24.
These young plaintiffs will argue that their governments’ inadequate action on the climate crisis violates their human rights and discriminates against youth globally.
The case, supported by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), is unprecedented in scale and importance, with 2,180 climate-related cases filed in 65 countries by December 2022, indicating a growing trend of young people holding governments accountable for climate inaction.

What is the lawsuit all about:

In September 2020, the case of Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and Others was filed, following the 2017 wildfires in Portugal that claimed nearly 66 lives and vast forest areas.
The young Portuguese plaintiffs argue that European nations have failed to meet climate emissions targets, violating human rights.
They aim to demonstrate that current emission rates will lead to a 3°C global temperature increase in their lifetime.
This lawsuit seeks to hold nations accountable for escalating emissions and advocates for measures such as reducing fossil fuel production and cleaning up global supply chains.
The climate crisis is termed a “child rights crisis” by UNICEF, impacting education, health, and well-being.

The age of climate lawsuit:

The European Convention on Human Rights, covering 47 member states, faces two pending climate-related cases.
In “Verein Klimaseniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland,” over 2,000 women contend that Switzerland’s insufficient climate action threatens their lives and health.
In the second case, the former mayor of Grande-Synthe argues that France’s inadequate climate response violates the right to life and respect for private and family life.
These cases highlight the growing recognition of climate change’s impact on human rights and future generations’ right to an equitable future.

What is Global Legal Action Network (GLAN):

The Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) is a unique non-profit organisation that pursues innovative legal actions across borders, challenging states and other powerful actors involved with human rights violations.