When you hear the word “climate activism,” the first thing that probably comes to mind is young people sticking themselves to the streets, storming coal mines, or occupying excavators. Or you think of demonstrations in the city center and colorful posters. What you probably don’t think about: older women with scarves – and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. But it was precisely these ladies and this very place that were at the center of climate activism this week.
The Swiss group “Climate Seniors” – consisting of around 2,000 women, a third older than 75 years – had complained to the ECHR: Their right to life was being violated due to a lack of climate protection. Stronger heat waves in summer are particularly dangerous for older people. In the summer of 2022 alone, there were more than 60,000 heat-related deaths in Europe – and around 37,000 of those who died were over 80 years old.
On Tuesday, the ECHR agreed with the climate seniors. SZ legal expert Wolfgang Janisch summed up how significant this ruling is in a comment: Climate protection is now a human right.
In another text, Janisch explained the procedure and the verdict in detail again, with the title: “Together you are strong”. This applies in many situations in life – but it is especially true as a climate plaintiff in court. Not only because the ECHR decided that only a group has standing to bring legal action regarding climate protection, not individual persons (because, according to the Court, climate change affects everyone). But also because a climate lawsuit requires a lot of stamina. The Swiss seniors had to go through all national courts before they could go to the ECHR. The lawsuit from 32 young people from Portugal, also heard in Strasbourg on Tuesday, who accused 32 European countries of endangering their future through a lack of climate protection, did not take this arduous path. That is why the ECHR dismissed their lawsuit.
But the verdict in favor of the seniors will certainly motivate many others to take legal action. In general, climate activists have been using legal means more and more frequently in recent years. One thinks of the groundbreaking ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court three years ago. In 2023, there were almost 3,000 ongoing climate lawsuits worldwide – four times more than in 2020.
And to be honest: Even though the climate movement says that all forms of activism are important, I am convinced that going to court will achieve more in the long term than sticker campaigns and demonstrations. Because slowly but surely these lawsuits and judgments are having an impact on politics. A road block is of course the quicker way – but legal action changes the system permanently. And sustainability is what this is all about.
(This text comes from the weekly Newsletter Climate Fridaythat you here free of charge can order.)