Swiss citizens sue government over climate change case

An association of Swiss senior citizens are suing their government for claimed passivity in dealing with climate change.

Members of the Club of Climate Seniors group appeared before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasburg for a public hearing last Wednesday.

Joining them in their cause Damien Carême, a European Parliament member of the French Green party and a former mayor.

Cited concerns

The group cited in their case concerns over global warming aggravating their health and living conditions. Senior women testifying described shortness of breath, nausea and even loss of consciousness during the heat waves, according to DW.

Climate Seniors and the former mayor are holding their governments accountable for not taking needed actions to protect citizens’ lives. “With this case, we want to help spur politicians into action…” Lore Zablonier, a 78-year-old from Zurich stated.

The group also referred to how senior women are the most disadvantaged when it comes to consequences of climate change. Rosmarie Wydler-Waelti, 73, told the Associated Press “we get sick a little bit faster due to heat waves than older men or other groups.”

A historical precedent

Corinne Lepage, a former French ecology minister and one of Carême’s lawyers explained the court verdict in this case may set a historical precedent in case the court “recognises that climate failings violate the rights of individuals to life and a normal family life.”

Georg Klingler, a Greenpeace-associated climate campaigner elaborated that this case is one of three related cases presented to the court. A verdict in the case filed by Club of Climate Seniors group is expected next year.

Switzerland is warming at more than twice the global rate. Alain Chablais, the Swiss government representative at the hearing told the Associated Press “Switzerland is not alone (in being affected by global warming) and this problem cannot be solved by Switzerland alone.”