{"id":58956,"date":"2023-03-29T09:26:22","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T07:26:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=58956"},"modified":"2024-12-16T18:34:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T17:34:08","slug":"first-climate-case-heard-at-the-european-court-of-human-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/press-release\/58956\/first-climate-case-heard-at-the-european-court-of-human-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"First climate case heard at the European Court of Human Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Strasbourg – Today, the Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland and four individual plaintiffs make history with the first ever climate case to be heard before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg, France. The case (Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland<\/em>, Application no. 53600\/20) will set a precedent for all 46 states of the Council of Europe, and decide whether and to what extent a country such as Switzerland must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions more stringently to protect human rights.<\/p>\n\n

The 2,038 Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland took their government to the European Court of Human Rights in 2020 because their lives and health are threatened by heat waves fueled by climate change. The ECtHR has fast-tracked<\/a> their case, which will be heard in its 17-Judge Grand Chamber.[1][2] The Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland are supported by Greenpeace Switzerland. <\/p>\n\n

Anne Mahrer, co-president of Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland, said:<\/strong> \u201cWe have filed a lawsuit because Switzerland is doing far too little to contain the climate catastrophe. Rising temperatures are already having serious impacts on our physical and mental health. The big spike in heat waves is making us older women sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Rosmarie Wydler-W\u00e4lti, co-president of Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland, said:<\/strong> \u201cThe decision to hold the hearing before the court\u2019s Grand Chamber underlines the fundamental significance of the lawsuit. The Court has recognised the urgency and importance of finding an answer to the question of whether states violate the human rights of elderly women by not taking the necessary climate protection measures.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Cordelia B\u00e4hr, lawyer of the Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland, said: <\/strong>\u201cElderly women are extremely vulnerable to the effects of heat. There is substantial evidence to show that they are at a significant risk of death, as well as ill health as a result of heat.  Accordingly, the harm and risks caused by climate change is sufficient to engage the State\u2019s positive obligations to protect their right to life, health and well-being as guaranteed by Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

The complaint by the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection is one of three climate change lawsuits that are currently pending before the Grand Chamber.[3] The two other lawsuits are:<\/p>\n\n