How three European human rights cases could shape climate litigation

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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Court of Human Rights is poised to deliver verdicts on three distinct climate cases, marking the first occasion it will rule on whether governmental inaction on climate change breaches human rights
• These cases involve six Portuguese youths suing 32 European nations, elderly Swiss women challenging Switzerland's climate efforts, and Damien Carême disputing France's climate policies

🔭 The context: These lawsuits question whether weak climate change policies infringe on human rights as defined by the European Convention
• They argue that insufficient actions to combat climate change threaten lives, especially among the young and elderly, and could discriminate against future generations by leaving them an uninhabitable planet

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: These rulings are significant for climate litigation worldwide, setting precedents for how courts can hold governments accountable for climate inaction
• A judgment against any government could mandate stronger emission reduction efforts, emphasizing legal duties to combat climate change to protect human rights

⏭️ What's next: The outcomes of these cases could compel governments to revise their 2030 emissions targets or face further litigation and potential financial penalties 
• Regardless of the decision, the impact will resonate globally, potentially inspiring similar legal actions beyond Europe and influencing courts in countries like Australia, Brazil, Peru, and South Korea

💬 One quote: "A win in any one of the three cases will be a win for everyone," (Catarina Mota, one of the Portuguese youths involved in the litigation)

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