Strasbourg rejects to judge France and another thirty countries for causing global warming

The European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, has decided not to proceed with a lawsuit against France and another thirty countries accused of contributing to global warming. However, in a turn of events, the same court ruled against Switzerland, accusing it of not acting appropriately in the face of climate change. This case was propelled by a group of Portuguese youths and a group of over 2,000 elderly Swiss women, known as ‘KlimaSeniorinnen,’ who argued that their government’s inaction on climate change violated their right to a dignified life. They contended that rising temperatures and heatwaves particularly endanger older people, increasing their vulnerability to death due to these phenomena.

The court highlighted that Switzerland had not fulfilled its duties to mitigate the effects of climate change, specifically pointing out the lack of effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This ruling could set a precedent for future legal actions in environmental matters, evidencing a violation of the plaintiffs’ “rights to family life” due to the Swiss government’s inadequate response to the climate crisis. Additionally, the court noted that the affected women did not have appropriate legal means in Switzerland to seek redress.

This statement comes at a time when Europe is experiencing extreme climate phenomena, as demonstrated by the record low temperatures registered in Sweden, which has experienced its coldest April in over six decades. This context contrasts with the decisions of the ECHR and highlights the complexity of the debate on climate change and the responsibility of governments in combating it.