The climate inaction of European governments is at the heart of an affair which is currently causing a lot of noise. Six young Portuguese have taken the matter to the European Court of Human Rights to denounce the failure to respect the commitments made under the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. They accuse the 27 Member States of the European Union as well that Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not taking the necessary measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the harmful consequences of global warming.
These six young people, aged 11 to 24, witnessed the devastation caused by the fires that hit Portugal in 2017, causing tens of thousands of hectares of destruction and more than 100 deaths. Their personal experience pushed them to act and hold European governments accountable. They claim that their lives and health are directly threatened by the consequences of climate change and that they are the victims of state inaction.
This case is described as “a David versus Goliath case” by representatives of the young plaintiffs. Indeed, the battle they are waging before the European Court of Human Rights is unprecedented in its scale and its consequences. If their request is deemed admissible, it could mark an important turning point in climate change litigation.
The European Court of Human Rights must first rule on the admissibility of the application. The criteria are strict and many applications are generally rejected. The six young people went directly to the Court without having exhausted the avenues of appeal before the national courts, which could be a major point of discussion during the debates.
If the application is deemed admissible, the Court will then have to rule on the merits of the case. If it is favorable to the young plaintiffs, European governments will have to change course and take faster and more ambitious measures to tackle global warming.
This case highlights the growing importance of climate litigation and legal action by young people around the world to demand stronger action against climate change. This is a new step in the mobilization to protect our planet and ensure a better future for all.