International court rules Switzerland violated human rights in landmark climate case brought by 2,000 women | CNN
International court rules Switzerland violated human rights in landmark climate case brought by 2,000 women CNN
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Goal 13: Climate Action
- Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Landmark Climate Judgment: Switzerland’s Failure to Tackle Climate Crisis Violates Human Rights
An international court in France on Tuesday ruled Switzerland’s failure to adequately tackle the climate crisis was in violation of human rights, in a landmark climate judgment that could have a ripple effect across the globe.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France delivered its ruling in a case brought by more than 2,000 Swiss women, the majority of whom are in their 70s, against Switzerland’s government. They argued that climate change-fueled heat waves undermined their health and quality of life, and put them at risk of dying.
The court ruled that the Swiss government had violated some of the women’s human rights due to “critical gaps” in its national legislation to reduce planet-heating emissions, as well as a failure to meet past climate targets. This amounted to a breach of the women’s rights to effective protection from the “the serious adverse effects of climate change on lives, health, well-being and quality of life,” the court said in a statement.
It marks the first time the court has ruled on climate litigation. There is no right of appeal and the judgment is legally binding.
Potential Impact on Future Climate Litigation
Experts say the court’s ruling could bolster other human rights-based climate cases pending before international courts and could open the flood gates for numerous similar lawsuits to be launched in the future.
“Today’s rulings against Switzerland sets a historic precedent that applies to all European countries,” Gerry Liston, a lawyer at Global Legal Action Network, which supported the Portugal case, said in a statement. “It means that all European countries must urgently revise their targets so that they are science-based and aligned to 1.5 degrees. This is a massive win for all generations.”
The ruling could also force Switzerland to reduce its consumption of fossil fuels more rapidly. Fossil fuels are the main driver of human-caused climate change.
Vesselina Newman, from the environmental lawyers organization ClientEarth, said this result “from one of the world’s highest courts sends a clear message: governments must take real action on emissions to safeguard the human rights of their citizens.”
Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice, which represents the country at the human rights court, said it “takes note” of the judgement. “The comprehensive judgment will be analyzed with the authorities concerned and the measures which Switzerland has to take for the future will be examined,” it said in a statement to CNN.
Other Judgments and Future Implications
The court also delivered judgments on two other claims, one brought by a municipal mayor against the French government and a third, the largest and highest-profile, by six young people in Portugal against 32 European countries. Those two claims were ruled “inadmissible.”
The French claim was ruled out because the claimant had since moved from the country and no longer had links with the region his case focused on, and so did not qualify as a “victim” for the purposes of the lawsuit.
The court dismissed the Portuguese case on the basis that the claimants had not exhausted all legal avenues in their national court system first. It also ruled that there were no grounds to extend the claim to countries outside Portugal.
Catarina dos Santos Mota, one of the claimants in that case, said while the ruling did not go their way, the judgment was still a win. “We didn’t break the wall but we’ve made a huge crack,” she said. “I want to see the win against Switzerland being used against all European countries and in national courts.”
Increasing Importance of Climate Litigation
As the climate crisis worsens, climate litigation is becoming an increasingly popular tool to attempt to force governments and companies to step up their climate action, especially as the world remains wildly off course in cutting emissions fast enough to avert catastrophic warming.
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who attended a demonstration, told reporters outside the court that “this is only the beginning of climate litigation.”
“All over the world more and more people are taking their government to court, holding them responsible for their actions,” Thunberg said, adding: “We are going to use every tool in the toolbox that we have.”
Tuesday’s judgment in favor of the Swiss women sets “a precedent for other international courts to follow,” Liston, from Global Legal Action Network, told CNN.
Both the International Court of Justice and the Inter American Court of Human Rights have cases pending which relate to the human rights impacts of climate change.
CNN’s Louis Mian contributed to reporting.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
The article discusses the violation of human rights due to the failure of Switzerland’s government to adequately tackle the climate crisis. This connects to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The health and well-being of the Swiss women affected by climate change-fueled heat waves are also at risk, linking to SDG 3. Additionally, the majority of the claimants are women, highlighting the issue of gender inequality and connecting to SDG 5.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination
- Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life
The article highlights the impact of climate change on the health and well-being of the Swiss women, indicating the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1). The heat waves caused by climate change put the women at risk of dying, emphasizing the importance of reducing deaths and illnesses from air pollution (Target 3.9). Furthermore, the case brought by the women against Switzerland’s government highlights the need for equal opportunities for women’s participation and leadership in decision-making processes (Target 5.5).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
- Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution
- Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments
The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards those targets. Indicator 13.1.1 can measure the impact of climate-related hazards on the population, including deaths and directly affected persons. Indicator 3.9.1 can measure the mortality rate attributed to air pollution, which is relevant to the health impacts of climate change. Indicator 5.5.1 can measure the proportion of women’s representation in decision-making bodies, reflecting progress towards gender equality.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination | Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life | Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments |
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Source: cnn.com
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