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Climate Change: Six Young Activists Sue 32 Countries

SEP 27 2023·Updated SEP 28 2023

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The Facts

Six Portuguese citizens, including three siblings, are suing the governments of 32 European nations over a lack of sufficient action to tackle climate change.
Al Jazeera
Aged between 11 and 24, the six plaintiffs allege that the 27 EU countries, as well as the UK, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, and Turkey, have failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to halt global warming at 1.5°C (2.7°F).
BBC News
Arguing that the complainants "will suffer during their lifetimes unless states step up to their responsibilities," the lawsuit claims that European governments have a legal duty to ensure that goals set by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement are met.
ABC News
The activists' legal team has stated that the European countries' climate policies "are aligned to 3°C of warming within the lifetime of the applicants" and that "no state has put forward evidence to counter that position."
The Associated Press
A 17-judge panel at the European Court of Human Rights will hear the case. A favorable ruling for the plaintiffs could legally bind the 32 governments to strengthen their action on climate change.
EuroNews
In response to the suit, attorneys for the European countries have "questioned the admissibility of the case as well as the claim that the plaintiffs are victims of climate change harm."
The Cut

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The Spin

Narrative A

The legal action brought by six Portuguese youths is one of the largest underdog stories of our time — a decision in their favor would defy the odds in a way many could never have imagined. Regardless of the outcome, these six ambitious young people have shown that anyone can affect change in the world, irrespective of their age. While getting nearly all European nations to change their laws is a long shot, these young activists are proving that anything is possible.

CNN

Narrative B

This case has no legal basis; the European Court of Human Rights doesn't have jurisdiction over any country in this case except Portugal, since the plaintiffs are Portuguese citizens. Moreover, they haven't provided any evidence of specific damages climate change has caused to their lives or physical and mental well-being. It's juvenile to take governments to court to force climate action when administrations are already committed to tackling the threat of climate change as best they can.

Reuters