Dutch appeals court upholds landmark climate change ruling

Netherlands ordered to increase emissions cuts in historic ruling that puts 'all world governments on notice'

A court in The Hague has upheld a historic legal order on the Dutch government to accelerate carbon emissions cuts, a day after the world's climate scientists warned that time was running out to avoid dangerous warming.

Appeal court judges ruled that the severity and scope of the climate crisis demanded greenhouse gas reductions of at least 25% by 2020 - measured against 1990 levels - higher than the 17% drop planned by Mark Rutte's liberal administration.