European Human Rights Court Rulings Set to Shape Climate Litigation

The European Court of Human Rights is set to rule on three climate cases, including a lawsuit by Portuguese youths against 32 European countries for failing to avert catastrophic climate change, and cases brought by elderly Swiss women and a former French mayor. The verdicts will determine whether weak climate change policies violate human rights, potentially setting a precedent for future climate litigation and influencing national emissions reduction targets. A ruling against the governments could lead to revised targets and further litigation, while a loss for the claimants could deter future legal action. The outcomes will also have implications beyond Europe, potentially impacting climate litigation in other countries.