A German court has dismissed a lawsuit from a Peruvian farmer against RWE, asserting that the company was responsible for climate change impacts on his hometown. Despite this dismissal, the ruling establishes a critical precedent for corporate responsibility in climate-related lawsuits, indicating that if a company refuses to take preventive actions against emissions, they may eventually incur liability costs associated with climate risks. This case is particularly notable as it represents a legal claim from a Global South individual against a firm from the Global North, emphasizing cross-continental accountability in climate action.
The higher regional court ruled that companies may be obligated to take preventive measures to counter their emissions, setting a precedent for polluters' liability.
Although the court rejected Lliuya's claim, it highlighted that if a polluter refuses preventive measures, they could later be held liable for flood risks.
This ruling is significant for climate litigation as it marks the first time a Global South citizen has brought a case against a Global North company over emissions.
The court concluded that a polluter may need to bear costs proportionately to their emissions, a critical point in establishing corporate responsibility.
Collection
[
|
...
]