· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Reuters or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: Six young individuals from Portugal, motivated by the perceived government inaction over climate change and the devastating wildfires in 2017, are taking 32 European nations to court
• Their case is set to be heard by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) soon
🔭 The context:The plaintiffs advocate for a binding ruling to compel these governments to take more aggressive actions against climate change, asserting that current inaction is infringing upon their human rights
• This lawsuit, initiated in September 2020, targets 27 EU member countries and other European nations
🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: If the lawsuit succeeds, it could set a significant precedent for governments to expedite their CO2 emissions reduction commitments, thereby contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts
⏭️ What's next: The ECHR has scheduled the hearing for this landmark case on September 27
• Backed by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), the young applicants argue that climate change jeopardizes various rights, including their right to life, mental well-being, and privacy
💬 One quote: "We just want them (governments) to stick to the treaties and do what they promised they would do," said Andre Oliveira, emphasizing the importance of the 2015 Paris Agreement
📈 One stat: A global survey revealed that over half of young people feel "sad, afraid, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty" due to climate change and perceived inaction to combat it
Click for more news covering the latest on climate change
