The European Court of Human Rights hears landmark climate lawsuits

Climate Home News reports that "after a pair of historic hearings, the future of European and international climate action depends on the decision of the judges of the European Court of Human Rights". He explains: “The two lawsuits heard in Strasbourg today accuse the governments of France and Switzerland of violating the human rights of their citizens by not taking sufficient action to reduce emissions in each country. It's the first time the European Court of Human Rights has dealt with climate change, but it probably won't be the last time.” The lawsuits were brought by a former French mayor and a group of Swiss seniors who say their governments have violated their rights to life and to respect for private and family life according to the European Convention on Human Rights. Climate Home News reports that campaigners say the rulings could set a "key" precedent for climate action as they "could force states to take more ambitious climate action as part of their human rights obligations". Isabella Kaminski also wrote a report on this story for the Guardian.

Isabella Kaminski, Climate Home News, Carbon Brief