Attacked by an association of elderly women, Switzerland, on the other hand, was condemned, a first for a State. This decision “will create a precedent which will put particular pressure on States”, rejoices Damien Carême.
:quality(50)/2023/07/07/64a7df4c5fe71_placeholder-36b69ec8.png)
Published
Reading time: 1 min
:quality(50)/2019/11/10/phpow9NXr.jpg)
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday April 9 rejected the request of the former mayor of Grande-Synthe (North), Damien Carême, who called for a conviction of the French state for climate inaction. He particularly pointed out the risk of submersion of his town, on the coast of the North Sea. “We have opened a path at the level of the ECHR”he nevertheless congratulated himself.
Damien Carême was not recognized as a victim by the Strasbourg judges. The court ruled on his request “inadmissible” since he “no longer resides in the town today”, he explains. The ECHR also considered inadmissible another complaint filed by a collective of six young Portuguese people, mobilized after the violent fires which ravaged the country in 2017, against 32 countries, including all EU member states.
Switzerland, on the other hand, was condemned by the Court for climate inaction, a first for a state. This request was made by the Elders for Climate Protection, a collective of 2,500 Swiss women aged 73 on average, who point out the negative consequences on living conditions and health of their country’s insufficient action. “The decision which has just been rendered, whatever the judgment of the three cases, will create a precedent which will put particular pressure on the States”underlines Damien Carême.
