In a closely watched case, a German court has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against German coal giant RWE over its alleged contribution to glacier melt and flood risk in the Andes. The court ruled that the 1% damage-risk estimate to his property was too minimal to proceed and barred any further appeal.
However, this dismissal carries historic weight. Legal and climate experts hailed the ruling for affirming a critical precedent—that climate science can serve as a legitimate basis for legal liability. The court acknowledged the case’s global relevance, with the presiding judge calling it “a microcosm of the world’s problems between North and South, rich and poor.”
Dr. Delta Merner of the Union of Concerned Scientists emphasised that this case, though not victorious, charts a new course for global climate litigation. With dozens of similar instances underway, the door is now open for affected communities worldwide to hold major emitters accountable in court. Read More
News Credit: Climate Home News
Picture Credit: REUTERS/Angela Ponce