ECHR Decides on the Role of Climate Policies on Lives, Health, Well-Being, and Quality of Life
canopic jug writes:
Several sites are reporting on the European Court of Human Rights' decision that failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions is a violation of our basic human rights. Specifically holding global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement, is a necessary step in preventing the serious, adverse effects on their lives, health, well-being, and quality of life which come with the direction climate change has been moving.
On Tuesday, a group of 2,000 Swiss women won a significant ruling on holding governments accountable for addressing climate change.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found that Switzerland failed to implement sufficient climate policies - violating the women's human rights.
The case could influence other European countries, as well as other international bodies, in their decisions about the legal ramifications of inadequate climate policies.
- Swiss senior women win ECHR case, Vox.
In a historic judgement, the court ruled that Switzerland's failure to do enough to cut its greenhouse gas emissions breached the rights to life and respect for family and private life of some of its most vulnerable citizens.
It is the first time this court, which is responsible for interpreting the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty signed by all members of the Council of Europe (including the UK), has ruled on a climate change-related matter.
- The ECHR's First Climate Ruling: What Does it Mean?, DeSmog.
A group called Senior Women for Climate Protection, whose average age is 74, had argued that they were particularly affected because older women are most vulnerable to the extreme heat that is becoming more frequent.
"The court recognized our fundamental right to a healthy climate and to have our country do what it failed to do until now: that is to say taking ambitious measures to protect our health and protect the future of all," said Anne Mahrer, a member of the group.
- European court tells nations to shield people from climate change in case with wide implications, VOA.
SoylentNews has covered ECHR decisions before, though mostly in the context of privacy in a digital context.
Read more of this story at SoylentNews.