NGOs and citizens file lawsuit with Germany鈥檚 highest court to enforce climate protection
WDR
A group of German citizens and NGOs has filed a lawsuit with the country鈥檚 constitutional court to oblige the government to pursue a more rigorous climate policy to 鈥�protect [the individuals鈥橾 right to life, physical integrity, and free development, as well as their property rights,鈥� J眉rgen D枚schner writes on the public broadcaster WDR鈥檚 website. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unclear whether the lawsuit will be accepted, but it will certainly have an effect鈥� by creating publicity, D枚schner writes. The claimants include TV actor Hannes Jaenicke, former member of parliament Josef G枚ppel of the conservative CSU party, solar power researcher Volker Quaschning, as well as the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND). They argue that Germany鈥檚 government, parliament and council of federal states 鈥渉ave not taken adequate measures to enforce鈥� the 2020 climate target of lowering carbon emissions by 40 percent with respect to 1990 levels and to comply with the goals agreed on in the Paris Climate Agreement. 鈥淐limate change by far is the greatest threat to our country,鈥� researcher Quaschning told WDR, adding that 鈥渋t鈥檚 sad that a constitutional complaint has to be made to protect our livelihood.鈥�
Read the article in German .
For background, read the article Germany on track to widely miss 2020 climate target 鈥� government.
