United Nations experts have recently called upon Switzerland and other European states to bolster their efforts in addressing climate change, following a significant ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) last year. This ruling underscored Switzerland’s shortcomings in fulfilling its international climate obligations, which were found to infringe on human rights, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as older women who are more susceptible to heat waves (more details).
The experts urged that states align with the UN guidance on intersectionality to avoid discrimination against certain social groups in their climate adaptation strategies. They also supported the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe’s efforts to gather more information on Switzerland’s climate mitigation strategies (further reading).
According to the ECtHR, Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to private and family life, extends to include state protection against the adverse impacts of climate change on wellbeing (details here). Despite its binding nature under Article 46 of the Convention, Switzerland initially contested the ruling by expressing dissatisfaction with the court’s broad interpretation of its responsibilities. However, entities such as Greenpeace welcomed the ruling, asserting that Switzerland had failed to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Switzerland, like many countries, has observed significant climate changes, evidenced by a decrease in Alpine glacier volume and increased instances of extreme weather (learn more). The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment has also reported on the health risks correlated with rising temperatures, such as the spread of infectious diseases and increased personal injuries due to flooding (read the report).
This call to action by the UN experts stresses the exigency for Europe, especially Switzerland, to take more decisive steps in the global fight against climate change, ensuring public transparency and prioritization of significant measures. The implications of the ECtHR’s decision continue to influence climate policy and action across the region.