Climate litigations set to rise globally on back of IPCC report

(EurActiv, 26 Oct 2018) Climate-related litigations are set to break new grounds following a landmark report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) earlier this month, which provided lawyers with new evidence that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is still possible.

“This report provides us strong arguments to use in the Court rooms: There is an important threat to people and their fundamental rights. By not stepping up their climate action, governments are failing to do their duty to protect citizens,” lawyer Roda Verheyen told EURACTIV.

“Besides showing the devastating impacts of above 1.5°C warming, the IPCC report made it clear that limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C is still possible and doable,” she stressed.

The report, released on 8 October, demonstrates that limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5ºC is still achievable.

But it will require unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society, including energy, agriculture, transport, urban and industrial systems.

It will also require the engagement of non-state actors, and the integration of climate action into broader public policies and development frameworks.

‘Climate justice is human right’

Verheyen explained that plaintiffs are already being affected by climate change.

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EurActiv, 26 Oct 2018: Climate litigations set to rise globally on back of IPCC report