Climate Inaction is a Human Rights Violation, Rules Court

By not meeting its climate targets, a Brussels court ruled that Belgium has committed a human rights violation, as the country hasn’t taken all the necessary measures to prevent the detrimental effects of climate change on its citizens.

“For the first time it is recognized that we are in direct, personal and real danger,” says Serge de Gheldere, the chairman of the NGO Klimaatzaak – which means climate case in Dutch – since “the court accepts that these [58,000] people have a direct and personal interest,” adds Carole Billiet, a lawyer who acted for the campaigners.

In its ruling, it is declared that Belgian authorities, having broken their promises to tackle the climate emergency, had breached the right to life and the right to respect for private and family life. This decision is the latest legal victory against public authorities, following the Netherlands, Germany, and France.