Lisbon [Portugal], September 28: Six children and young people have taken the governments of Germany and 31 other states in Europe to court to force them to do much more to protect the environment in future.
The climate complaint filed by the young Portuguese three years ago was heard by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The human rights organisation Amnesty International spoke of a "groundbreaking" initiative by the young people, aged between 11 and 24.
Besides the age of the plaintiffs, the size of the trial and the number of countries accused are unusual. On the side of the governments, more than 80 lawyers were present in the courtroom, while plaintiffs were represented by only six lawyers.
"This is really a case of David against Goliath," Gearoid Ó Cuinn, director of the non-governmental organisation Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), which is supporting and advising the Portuguese on the initiative, said a few days before the hearing. The challenge is huge, but the prize that beckons is very tempting.
If the plaintiffs are proved right, the ECtHR could order the governments of EU member states and co-defendants Norway, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland and the UK to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adopt and comply with stricter climate targets.
GLAN lawyer Gerry Liston described the action as a possible "gamechanger." At the hearing, lawyers for the European governments rejected the claim in front of the 17 judges and the young people.
It was based on "mere assumptions" and "empty hypotheses," they said. A ruling is not expected until next year.
Source: Qatar Tribune
