Essay by Eric Worrall
The Swiss Government’s weak climate policies were found to violate the rights of older Swiss women by increasing the risk of death during heat waves.
Human rights violated by climate inaction, ECHR rules in landmark case
Court backs group of elderly Swiss women who say weak policies put them at higher risk of death from heat
Ajit Niranjan Tuesday 9 April 2024 20:29 AEST
The government’s weak climate policy violates basic human rights, European Court of Human Rights ruled.
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The highest bench of the court ruled that Switzerland violated the rights of a group of elderly Swiss women to family life, but overturned a French mayor’s lawsuit against France and a lawsuit by a group of Portuguese youths against 32 European countries. Europe.
“It seems like a mixed result because two of the cases were inadmissible,” said Corina Heri, a legal researcher at the University of Zürich. “But it was actually a huge success.”
The court, which calls itself “the conscience of Europe,” found that Switzerland had failed to comply with its obligations to prevent climate change. It also sets out the path for organizations to bring further cases on behalf of applicants.
The Swiss ruling leaves all 46 members of the Council of Europe facing similar cases in national courts, which they are likely to lose.
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KlimaSeniorinnen, a group of 2,400 elderly Swiss women, told the court that some of their rights had been violated. Because Older women are more likely to die during heat waves – which has become hotter and more widespread due to fossil fuels – they argue that Switzerland contributes to stopping the planet warming to the Paris agreement’s target of 1.5C (2.7F) above monetary levels. industry.
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Switzerland, which is not a member of the European Union, voluntarily submits to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. In my view, the EHCR has over the years proven itself to be one of the most anti-democratic organizations in Europe, regularly rejecting the policies of elected officials.
Switzerland, with an average altitude of 1350m (4429ft) and latitude of 46° North, has warm summers and cold winters, but it is not necessarily a hot country. They occasionally get heat waves. I visited Switzerland a long time ago in April, I remember having to take off my jacket after climbing around the foothills of Grindelwalde for half a day, but the weather wasn’t exactly hot.
My health advice for KlimaSeniorinnen, if it’s a hot summer day, you can reduce the risk of heatstroke by leaving your thermals at home.
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