The European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Thursday rejected an effort by a Scandinavian youth group and families around the world to force the EU to set more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, arguing that they were not “individually” affected by Europe’s climate policy.
Those behind the initiative — including a Portuguese farmer, an Arctic Aboriginal activist and German islanders — expressed disappointment at the ruling, but were also determined to keep fighting for faster action against climate change.
Families from Kenya, Fiji, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Romania, along with the Swedish Sami Youth organization, launched the legal action in 2018. They hoped to draw attention to the effect that climate policy had on individuals and those fighting for starving arctic reindeer and other environmental issues.
Photo: AP
The European General Court acknowledged that the plaintiffs are generally affected by climate change, but rejected the case in 2019 on procedural grounds. The families and youth group appealed to the ECJ, the bloc’s top court.
The ECJ on Thursday upheld the lower court’s decision, saying that the plaintiffs “are not individually concerned” by the EU’s climate legislation so the case would not be heard.
“The Sami people live in the middle of the climate crisis every day. We see how the climate crisis affects the reindeer, nature and our culture,” Sanna Vannar of the Sami youth organization told reporters. “It makes me so angry and frustrated that the EU does not take this problem seriously and address it like an emergency.”
Photo: Reuters
Alfredo Sendim, the Portuguese farmer, said that he struggled with season after season of drought. “The court’s decision is disappointing, but we will not give up. We will continue seeking protection of our rights and demand climate protection,” he said.
Environmental advocates held a small protest in Brussels after the ruling.
After the legal effort was launched, the European Commission proposed a “European Green Deal” with more ambitious goals toward fighting climate change.
EU leaders last year reached a deal to cut the bloc’s net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, more than the previous goal of 40 percent.
Experts say that ending the use of fossil fuels is one of the most important measures needed to limit global warming, which is believed to be causing stronger storms, fiercer droughts and other weather problems that are damaging lives and livelihoods around the world.
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