The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday condemned Switzerland for violating the Convention on Human Rights, ruling in favor of an association of elderly women who attacked the country’s inaction in the face of climate change.
This is the first time that the Court, which enforces the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, has condemned a State for its lack of initiatives to combat climate change.
The request was brought by the Swiss association of “Seniors for Climate Protection” (2,500 women aged 73 on average) and four of its members who also developed individual requests. They denounce “failures by the Swiss authorities to mitigate the effects of climate change” which, according to them, have negative consequences on their living conditions and their health.