The European Court condemns Switzerland for climate inaction

In a landmark decision, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled for the first time that a country violated human rights by failing to protect its population from the effects of climate change.

A Swiss association representing more than 2,000 older women (a third of them over 75) filed a complaint with the ECHR alleging that the government had exposed them to greater risk during heat waves.

The lawsuit focused on the particular vulnerability of older women to extreme weather events. Heat waves, increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change, represent a serious danger to the health of this demographic group. Older women are more likely to suffer from heart and respiratory problems, conditions that are exacerbated by extreme heat.

La CEDH falló a favor de las demandantes, reconociendo por primera vez que el Convenio abarca el «derecho a la protección efectiva por parte de las autoridades estatales de los efectos nocivos del cambio climático en la vida, la salud y el bienestar».

This ruling has far-reaching implications for governments across Europe and, potentially, the world. It establishes a legal precedent that could be used to hold governments accountable for climate inaction and its impact on human rights.

While the ruling applies specifically to Switzerland, it opens the door to similar lawsuits in other European countries and possibly beyond. Vulnerable groups around the world could use this precedent to demand their governments take stronger action to address climate change.

The ECHR did not issue specific remedial measures to Switzerland, but requires that the country take the necessary steps to address the concerns raised by the complainants. This could include greater investment in renewable energy, implementing action plans to mitigate extreme heat and improving early warning systems.

By recognizing the right to protection from the effects of climate change, the ECHR has provided a powerful legal tool to hold governments accountable and ensure the protection of human rights on a changing planet.

I think it is very good news, which can serve to raise people's awareness about the PROBLEM we face, and for citizens to mobilize and demand that their governments take corrective and urgent measures in this regard.

In part, it is up to us to make that happen.