German court rejects landmark climate case against car giants

"The plaintiffs built their case on a landmark 2021 ruling by Germany's Constitutional Court that the state has a duty to protect future generations from the effects of climate change and sought to apply the principle to companies."

"Private individuals cannot demand that automobile manufacturers refrain from placing passenger cars with internal combustion engines on the market ahead of European Union deadlines."

"DUH executive director Barbara Metz said the decision did not absolve Mercedes-Benz and BMW of their responsibility for the climate crisis, which stems from their sale of millions of internal combustion engine vehicles in order to maximise profits."

"The DUH said it was also considering whether to file an appeal to the Constitutional Court."

Germany's Federal Court of Justice dismissed a climate case from Environmental Action Germany, which sought to ban combustion-engine cars by 2030. The court ruled that personal rights were not affected by the defendants' business activities, upholding lower court decisions. The case was based on a 2021 ruling emphasizing the state's duty to protect future generations from climate change. DUH's executive director criticized the ruling but emphasized that responsibility for climate action lies with the federal government, urging more proactive measures from Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Read at The Local Germany