Climate Litigation Posts

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Report | 16.04.2024

A historic day for climate mitigation

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) makes legal history with its landmark rulings on three climate litigation cases. The court made clear that climate change poses a major threat to human rights as protected by the Human Rights Convention. Every state is responsible for safeguarding the lives of its citizens from the climate crisis. A precedent that has an impact on all EU member states, including Germany. An analysis by Roda Verheyen and Gerd Winter.

Kleinbauer Saúl Luciano Lliuya

Report | 24.11.2023

8 years of climate lawsuit against RWE

Today, eight years ago, the Peruvian mountain guide and small farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya filed his civil lawsuit against RWE at the regional court in Essen in Germany. What began back then has now become one of the world's most recognised precedents for the question of whether individual major emitters must pay for protection against climate risks.

Sign saying "Ruta de Evacuación" in front of a rushing stream

Report | 24.05.2023

Saúl Luciano Lliuya against RWE: expert opinion expected in summer

More than 50,000 inhabitants of the Andean city of Huaraz are threatened by a flood wave due to global warming. The Andean farmer and mountain guide Saúl Luciano Lliuya decided to take action: On 24 November 2015, he filed a lawsuit against the energy company RWE in a German civil court. One year after the court visit to Huaraz, the expert report will finally be available this summer. A hearing at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm is expected later this year.

Collage mit Portraits von Unterstützer:innen des Falls RWE

Report | 14.12.2022

7 years of legal action

Seven years ago, Saúl Luciano Lliuya from the Andean city of Huaraz (Peru) went to a German civil court to hold Europe's largest greenhouse gas emitter - RWE - accountable. What began then is now a globally respected precedent on the question of whether major emitters must pay for protecting people from climate risks. Show him your support!

Saúl Luciano Lliuya en las calles de Huaraz

Report | 14.03.2022

Court taking evidence in Peru for RWE case

The RWE case is finally moving forward: in summer, the Higher Regional Court of Hamm will conduct a site visit to Huaraz. The visit had been delayed since 2019 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. In Peru, judges and court-appointed experts will examine the risk of glacial lake outburst flood affecting the plaintiff Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s house.

5 years Huaraz

Report | 02.12.2020

Lessons from 5 years Paris Climate Agreement - 5 years climate litigation against RWE

Five years ago, legal history in terms of climate protection was written: Thanks to the courageous filing of a civil lawsuit against RWE, Europe's largest CO2 emitter, by the Peruvian mountain guide and farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya in November 2015. To celebrate this important milestone, Saúl Luciano Lliuya, his lawyer and his supporters*, came together to look back on the past five years, take stock and venture a look into the future. Watch the video of the event.

Blogbeitrag Huaraz: Anwältin Dr. Roda Verheyen und Kläger Saúl Luciano Lliuya

Climate Litigation Blog post | 26.11.2020

5 Years of climate litigation against RWE – a milestone for climate justice

Am 24. November 2015 zog Saúl Luciano Lliuya aus der peruanischen Andenstadt Huaraz für den Schutz seines Lebensraumes vor ein deutsches Gericht. Er reichte seine Klage ein, um einen der größten Emittenten für die Folgen seiner klimaschädlichen Wirtschaftsweise haftbar zu machen. Mit dem Fall Huaraz wurde juristisches Neuland betreten. Inzwischen ist es eine weltweit wahrgenommene Musterklage, die es in die Beweisaufnahme geschafft hat und eine Signalwirkung wie keine andere Klage entfaltet.

#WorldWeWant

Report | 08.10.2020

Together for a #WorldWeWant

Against the background of the worsening climate crisis, the Climate Action Network (CAN) has launched the #WorldWeWant campaign. Through a series of short films, people from different regions of the world tell how climate change is affecting their lives and communities. Plaintiff Lüke Recktenwald is also involved with a video about his home island Langeoog.

Peoples Climate Case - All participants

Report | 06.10.2020

Plaintiffs of the People's Climate Case urge European Parliament to vote on ambitious climate target

On Tuesday, 6th of October, the European Parliament will vote on the EU Climate Law and set its position on the EU 2030 climate target. In a letter to the Members of the European Parliament the plaintiffs of the People's Climate Case urge them to decide on higher emission cuts by 2030 and to support access to justice for citizens.

Lüke Recktenwald auf Langeoog

Report | 22.07.2020

„It is important that we do something now to protect our future"

Lüke Recktenwald is a real "islander". His family has been living on the North Sea island of Langeoog for four generations and runs a hotel and restaurant. Whether Lüke will be able to live and work on the island in the future like his parents is uncertain, as Langeoog is increasingly threatened by the climate crisis. In this interview he tells how he experiences the climate and health crisis on the island and why he decided to go to court to demand climate protection.

Saúl Luciano Lliuya

Report | 05.06.2020

COVID-19 in Peru: What are the consequences for Saúl Luciano Lliuya and his lawsuit?

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the Higher Regional Court of Hamm had increasingly envisaged the on-site visit in Huaraz in the context of the taking of evidence in this high profile climate lawsuit. Now, unfortunately, it will be further delayed due to the crisis and resulting travel restrictions.

Kläger*innen

Climate Litigation Blog post | 01.04.2020

The Right to a Future – Demanding Climate Justice in Court

Anyone who violates another person’s fundamental rights by emitting greenhouse gases bears a double legal duty: First, to put a stop to this harm so that the (fundamental) rights of others are not undermined.

UN climate conferences Climate Litigation Blog post | 10.12.2019

COP25 Side Event Report: CLIMATE JUSTICE AND LAW IN A CLIMATE EMERGENCY with Saúl Luciano Lliuya

On Saturday 7th December, leaders of grassroots movements from across the Global South came together for the first time at COP25 to collectively discuss the growing international climate justice movement in response to the global climate crisis. The session was a powerful discussion about resilience, repression and accountability in using the law to address the highly disruptive and damaging consequences of climate change for communities.

Foto: Huaraz, Palcacocha, Peru von Alex Luna

Report | 08.05.2019

The Huaraz Case in its fourth year

The plaintiff Saúl Luciano Lliuya and his family need a lot of patience in this worldwide-perceived lawsuit. After the court's decision to enter into the evidentiary stage, it had taken a long time until the official experts for the taking of evidence could be determined. This was partly due to objections by RWE‘s lawyers, which were rejected by the court. Now even more time is needed to realize a recent court-appointed on-site visit to Peru/Huaraz.

Climate Litigation Blog post | 08.11.2018

RWE lawsuit: First test case in Europe to clarify responsibilities of carbon majors for climate change

In November 2015, Saúl Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer living in Huaraz in Peru, filed a lawsuit in Germany against RWE, Germany’s largest electricity producer.

The climate case: Saúl gegen RWE. Gletschereis schmilzt. Verantwortung wächst.

Report | 09.07.2018

No agreement on experts - now court will select them

In the trial of the Peruvian mountain guide Saúl Luciano Lliuya against the energy company RWE before the Higher Regional Court of Hamm, the court has now announced that it will select the experts for the taking of evidence itself.

Piktogramm Gerichtsdokumente

Report | 13.12.2017

Court documents of the 'Huaraz Case'

Germanwatch provides unauthorised English translations of the most important court documents of the Huaraz case. Moreover, court documents of the defendants party have been summarized and translated into English. Recent documents will be uploaded on a current basis.

Huaraz FAQ

Report | 12.12.2017

Interesting facts: Background information on the decision of the higher regional court Hamm

This document describes, amongst other things, the legal basis for Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s claim, his exact reasoning, the first-instance decision, the clear votum of the higher regional court in Hamm and the consequential indicative ruling and decision to take evidence. You can also find additional information regarding the role of climate models and science in this interesting background document.

Huaraz FAQ

Report | 23.11.2017

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS regarding the CASE OF HUARAZ

On this page you can find the answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions about the case of Huaraz.

Huaraz, Palcacocha, Peru

Report | 17.08.2017

YURAQ JANKA - A journey to Palcacocha

This is a transmedia project about individuals, communities and organizations facing the impacts of climate change in the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. Next to the climate lawsuit of Saúl Luciano Lliuya, this project shares insights from the 1941 glacier lake outburst flood in Huaraz as well as from the workers living at the camp below the Palcacocha glacier lake.