A Stockholm court found an environmental activist guilty of disobeying law enforcement but exempted him from a fine due to the “climate emergency”.
The Swedish Prosecuting Authority said on Friday that it had not yet decided whether to appeal the decision.
This 41-year-old man participated in blocking car traffic in the center of the Swedish capital during a climate demonstration in 2022.
He had been sent to trial for refusing to clear the road despite orders given by the police.
The man did not dispute the facts but believed he was innocent because he had acted out of necessity, due to the “ongoing climate emergency”.
In its decision handed down on Wednesday, the Stockholm court found him guilty of disobedience to the police but ruled that the fact that he acted “with the aim” of ending a danger to society meant that he should not not be punished.
“This is an emergency situation and the effects of climate change are already evident,” the court said in its decision.
“In this context, we consider that it is manifestly unreasonable to impose a sanction on him,” he continues.
Decisions in Swedish district courts are rendered by a professional judge jointly with, most often, three non-professionals who therefore do not necessarily have legal training.
In this case, the decision was not unanimous and the professional judge and one of the non-professionals wanted to impose a fine.
These non-professional judges are appointed by the municipal council.
Decisions in which non-professional judges have won what the professional judge advocated are often overturned on appeal, notes the Swedish news agency TT.