The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Switzerland’s climate inaction violates human rights, marking the first-ever such ruling by the court on global warming. The case was brought by a group of Swiss women, primarily in their 70s, who argued that their age and gender made them especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as extreme heatwaves.
In its judgment, the court found that Switzerland’s efforts to meet its emission reduction targets were insufficient and failed to meet obligations under the European Convention. It concluded that the country’s climate policies had critical gaps, particularly in quantifying reductions in greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. As a result, the court determined that Switzerland had violated the right to respect for private and family life.
The case was brought by members of the group KlimaSeniorinnen (Senior Women for Climate Protection), which represents over 2,000 women. The plaintiffs argued that, due to climate change, they were unable to leave their homes and suffered health problems during heatwaves.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who attended the court in Strasbourg to support the case, described the ruling as a “huge victory” and emphasized that it marked the beginning of further climate litigation efforts.
The ruling is binding and may influence legal precedents across the 46 countries in Europe, including the UK. Swiss President Viola Amherd responded cautiously, stating that she would review the judgment in detail before making further comments.
This decision comes amid rising concerns about the pace of global climate action. Data from March 2024 showed that the month was the hottest March on record, continuing a trend of record-breaking temperatures.
In contrast, the court dismissed two other climate cases involving young people from Portugal and a former French mayor. The Portuguese youth had argued that European governments’ slow climate actions infringed on their rights, while the French mayor’s case, which claimed that inaction endangered his town, was dismissed on procedural grounds.
Climate experts and activists have expressed concern over the slow pace of global emissions reductions, which they say are insufficient to meet the international target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
In Switzerland, the ruling was met with mixed reactions. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party criticized the decision, calling it a scandal, while the Socialist Party called for immediate implementation of the judgment.
As legal challenges related to climate change continue to unfold, this ruling represents a significant development in the intersection of climate policy and human rights law.
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