States and companies have human rights obligations, which also means that they must take action nationally and internationally against climate change. However, in reality, this happens all too rarely. This is why our interventions aim to force those who hold power in politics and business to act differently, protecting and strengthening the rights of those affected by climate-damaging projects.
Cluster
Global warming
Projects (3)
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Indonesia – Climate change – Pari
Rising sea levels: An island fights against its demise
The highest point of the Indonesian island Pari stands at 1.5 meters above sea level – for now. Climate change has been causing the water to rise steadily for years, endangering the livelihoods of the island residents, who are struggling more frequently with increasingly severe flooding. But the people on Pari do not want to simply accept the demise of their homeland: they are taking legal action in Switzerland against one of the world’s largest emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases, the cement company Holcim.
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Netherlands – RWE – Coal phase-out
Against progress: RWE sues the Netherlands
In December 2019, the Dutch parliament passed a law to phase out coal. With this, the country on the North Sea wants to ban the burning of coal for power generation from 2030, also in order to comply with its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement. Among other things, the law obligated the energy company RWE to stop burning coal at its Eemshaven power plant by the end of the decade. RWE therefore sued the Netherlands for 1.4 billion euros in damages.
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Europe – Paris Agreement – ECtHR
Climate change before the European Court of Human Rights
Governments are failing to do what is necessary to counteract climate change. Through their inaction, they violate human rights, as well as obstruct the chances of ensuring a future that is worth living for present and future generations on earth.