First the Netherlands, now Pakistan’s high court comes to defence of climate

(guardian-, 7 Oct 2015) A minor revolution in climate justice has just taken place in one of the countries most affected by global warming, reports Le Monde.

The high court of justice in Lahore has ordered the creation of a “climate council” to force the Pakistani state to uphold its environmental commitments.

A farmer went to the court with the charge that his “fundamental rights” had been breached by the lack of action on the part of Pakistan’s climate change minister. Pakistan has been hit by three consecutive years of deadly floods.

Rising temperatures are increasing the chance of drought and heightening rainfall intensity during a shortened monsoon season. These elements threaten the country’s agricultural production, which half the population relies on for its survival.

In a recent ruling, the judge said that the government had not made any concrete steps to enact the national climate change policy, approved in 2012. The judged added, “for Pakistan , climate change is no longer a distant threat – we are already feeling and experiencing its impacts across the country and the region.”

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guardian-, 7 Oct 2015: First the Netherlands, now Pakistan’s high court comes to defence of climate