In a nearly five-hour-long hearing on Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) heard a case put forth by six youth plaintiffs against 33 European governments to push for stronger climate change mitigations measures.
The case, Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and 32 Others, saw six plaintiffs from Portugal including Catarina, 23, Cláudia, 24, Martim, 20, Mariana, 11, Sofia, 18, and André, 15, questioning the implications of climate change on the world as they grow older. In addition to Portugal, the group is suing other 32 countries from Austria to Ukraine.
The UK government’s spokesperson, Sudhanshu Swaroop, spoke on behalf of the 33 governments, confirming their acknowledgment of the seriousness of climate change, but expressing disagreement with the procedural route the plaintiffs have chosen to process these claims.
According to the lawsuit, these governments contribute to climate change by permitting release of emissions within national territory, permitting the export and import of goods and fossil fuels adding to emissions, and permitting entities within their jurisdiction to contribute to global emissions.
Although these governments are part of the Paris Agreement—an international treaty that aims to restrict global warming to only 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, it is pointed out that they still contribute to total global emissions annually.
The lawsuit was notably incited by the 2017 record-breaking wildfires in Portugal caused by extreme heatwaves, which killed 120 people and highlighted their vulnerability to adverse climate impacts. Plaintiffs argue their rights under Articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights have been violated.
What makes this case even more unique is the number of observing judges. An unprecedented 22 judges saw the hearing, highlighting the case’s historic nature.