A group of Swiss senior citizens is suing their government. As a vulnerable group, they are particularly vulnerable to the climate crisis.

In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) condemned Switzerland for its climate insecurity.

The second case was dismissed

The judges agreed with a group of Swiss senior citizens who accused their government of not taking enough steps to combat climate change. However, a court in Strasbourg on Tuesday dismissed a climate lawsuit by a former mayor of a French coastal city.

A resounding verdict

According to experts ahead of the results, the Strasbourg rulings could be a turning point in the fight against climate change. These rulings could force governments to adopt more ambitious climate policies.

The ECHR was established by the member states of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in 1959 to ensure compliance with the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. There are no explicit regulations on environmental protection. Nevertheless, in earlier cases involving industry and waste management, the Court required states to maintain a “healthy environment”. The judges refer to Article 8 of the Convention – the right to respect for private and family life.