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On Wednesday September 27, six young Portuguese people, aged 11 to 24, came before the European Court of Human Rights to demand accountability from European countries for climate inaction.
The youngest applicant is only 11 years old and the oldest 24. They are six brothers and sisters and friends. They live in Portugal and have come to demand accountability from 32 European countries for climate inaction. For them, climate change is already disrupting their daily lives. “Due to extreme temperatures, my outdoor activities are disrupted”assures Andréa, 15 years old. Sofia says that her friends have “health issues“because of climate change.
A hearing at the European Court of Human Rights
It was the 2017 fires in Portugal that sparked their awareness. Barely intimidated, they attended a hearing of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, made up of 17 judges. Assisted by an NGO, they denounced the violation of the right to life, enshrined in the ECHR. “If we manage to have a favorable judgment, it will have an impact on all climate policies”says Stéphanie Larigarafrom the NGO Global Action Network.