• Climate change before the European Court of Human Rights

Governments worldwide are failing to do what is necessary to counteract climate change. Through their inaction, they violate human rights, as well as obstruct the chances of ensuring a future that is worth living for present and future generations on earth. More and more people around the globe – especially those most at risk, including the young and the elderly – are taking these governments to court.

For the first time, the European Court of Human Rights is faced with the responsibility of holding European states accountable for violating human rights by not taking sufficient measures to combat climate change.

On 29 March 2023, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) heard its first two climate cases : Verein Klima Seniorinnen and Others v Switzerland and Carême v France.

Meanwhile, another much awaited case, Duarte Agostinho et al. v Portugal and 32 Others, will be heard on 27 September 2023.

justice-icef-european-court-of-human-rights

Verein Klima Seniorinnen and Others versus Switzerland

As older women are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, a coalition of senior women (https://en.klimaseniorinnen.ch/) have taken the Swiss government to the ECtHR for its insufficient climate targets and measures to limit global warming to safe levels. The complaint, filed in December 2020, argues that by pursuing inadequate climate goals, Switzerland is violating the claimant’s right to life as guaranteed by the Swiss constitution and by the European Convention on Human Rights.

ITA - Anziane per il Clima (Klima Seniorinnen)

Anziane per il Clima

Le “Anziane per il clima” citano la Svizzera davanti alla Corte europea per i diritti dell’uomo per inazione climatica.
La Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo di Strasburgo (Cedu) dovrà esprimersi sui piani climatici inadeguati della Svizzera, Paese che circa 2mila signore hanno citato in giudizio per politiche inefficaci nell’affrontare l’emergenza clima che mette a rischio vita e salute particolarmen,te per la popolazione anziana.

Le ricorrenti sono le Anziane per il Clima (Klima Seniorinnen) ong svizzera appoggiata da Greenpeace e da molte associazioni ambientaliste, che chiedono entro il 2030 un taglio delle emissioni svizzere “di oltre il 60%, invece del 34% previsto finora”. Nel caso in cui la Cedu riconoscesse che la Svizzera stia violando l’articolo 2 (diritto alla vita) o l’8 (diritto al rispetto della vita privata e familiare) della CEDU, il Paese alpino dovrebbe dare delle risposte concrete e si creerebbe un importante precedente.

A seguito dell’udienza, tenutasi il 29 marzo 2023, la prima audizione pubblica mai tenuta dalla Corte europea per i diritti dell’uomo (CEDU) in relazione a una causa climatica, si attende la decisione di Strasburgo entro un anno.

Se il tribunale deciderà che la protezione del clima è una questione di diritti umani, si legittimerebbe il percorso climatico insoddisfacente in cui si trovano la Svizzera e, naturalmente, molti altri Paesi.

The-climate-action-at-the-Court-is-one-of-the-first-of-its-kind-and-could-become-a-precedent-for-the-whole-of-Europe.©-Greenpeace---Joël-Hunn

The climate action at the Court is one of the first of its kind and could become a precedent for the whole of Europe.
© Greenpeace / Joël Hunn

(©-Shervine-Nafissi-–-https---en.klimaseniorinnen.ch-)

Duarte Agostinho et al. versus Portugal and 32 Others

In Duarte Agostinho, six children and young people, all residing in Portugal, filed an action against Portugal and 32 other States for their joint failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement. They argue that climate change effects, such as wildfires, impacted their physical and mental health; their right to life; and, as children will disproportionately suffer from climate change effects over the course of their lifetime, their right to non-discrimination.

The Court granted the case priority status due to the importance and urgency of the issues raised. Before addressing the merits of the case, the Court will likely examine in detail the issues of extra-territorial jurisdiction and exhaustion of domestic remedies.