The Case of the Century, a fight for climate justice – The news was in turmoil this week as environmental NGOs united under the banner of the Case of the Century impatiently awaited the court’s verdict. These associations, including Notre Affaire à Tous, Greenpeace and Oxfam, had filed a lawsuit against the French state for non-compliance with its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the Paris administrative court decided to dismiss the NGOs’ request for a financial penalty of 1.1 billion euros. In its decision, the court recognized that the state had belatedly adopted measures to repair the ecological damage, but that it had finally done so. According to the public rapporteur, the latest available data showed a drop in national CO2 emissions, which allowed us to consider that the damage had been fully repaired.
This decision was greeted with disappointment by the NGOs who decided to reserve the right to appeal. They believe that the judgment does not really reflect the situation and that the State did not repair the damage with real intention. According to Jérémie Suissa, general delegate of Notre Affaire à Tous, justice must be more ambitious in the face of governments’ climate inaction.
Despite this defeat in court, NGOs will continue their fight for climate justice. They will continue to put pressure on the French state to take bold and concrete measures to combat global warming. The Affair of the Century therefore remains a powerful symbol of citizen mobilization and the need to protect our planet.
At the same time, the French state also remains under threat from another affair, that of Grande-Synthe, a northern commune threatened with submersion due to climate change. The Council of State demanded that France strengthen its arsenal for climate protection, giving the State until June 30, 2024 to reduce the national carbon footprint.
In conclusion, the Deal of the Century highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis and the responsibility of governments to act. Even if justice has not ruled in favor of the NGOs, their fight for climate justice remains a call to action for all. It is time to act, take ambitious steps and protect our planet for future generations.