Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The European Court’s Climate Change Judgment:
What the Court Really Said and what it means for Climate Change Litigation
An analysis by UCL experts
An event organised by the UCL Institute for Human Rights
About the talk
On the 9th of April the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered its much-anticipated judgment in three climate change cases. In one of them, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v Switzerland, the Strasbourg Court found for the first time a violation of the right to protection from the adverse effects of climate change. The case was brought by individuals, as well as a non-profit Swiss association aimed at promoting effective protection from climate change. The Court held that only the association had standing to complain and ruled a violation of article 8 ECHR (right to private life) and article 6 ECHR (right of access to court). It found that Switzerland was in breach of its positive obligation to adopt, and implement, measures capable of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
The KlimaSeniorinnen judgment is hailed as breaking new ground in climate change litigation by many but criticised as illegitimate judicial activism on the part of the European Court by some. UCL experts will analyse the reasoning of the Court and discuss what the judgment means for the future of climate change litigation and for European environmental policy. It will be followed by a Q & A session.
UCL Speakers:
Dr Veronika Fikfak
Ms Sonam Gordham
Professor Maria Lee
Professor George Letsas
Professor Lisa Vanhala
The European Court’s Climate Change Judgment:
What the Court Really Said and what it means for Climate Change Litigation
An analysis by UCL experts
An event organised by the UCL Institute for Human Rights
About the talk
On the 9th of April the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered its much-anticipated judgment in three climate change cases. In one of them, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v Switzerland, the Strasbourg Court found for the first time a violation of the right to protection from the adverse effects of climate change. The case was brought by individuals, as well as a non-profit Swiss association aimed at promoting effective protection from climate change. The Court held that only the association had standing to complain and ruled a violation of article 8 ECHR (right to private life) and article 6 ECHR (right of access to court). It found that Switzerland was in breach of its positive obligation to adopt, and implement, measures capable of mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
The KlimaSeniorinnen judgment is hailed as breaking new ground in climate change litigation by many but criticised as illegitimate judicial activism on the part of the European Court by some. UCL experts will analyse the reasoning of the Court and discuss what the judgment means for the future of climate change litigation and for European environmental policy. It will be followed by a Q & A session.
UCL Speakers:
Dr Veronika Fikfak
Ms Sonam Gordham
Professor Maria Lee
Professor George Letsas
Professor Lisa Vanhala
