Vernon Rive, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The recent climate case win in the European Court of Human Rights by a group of older Swiss women has real implications for a number of current cases before New Zealand courts.
Vernon Rive, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
By allowing a case against local greenhouse gas emitters to go ahead, the Supreme Court of New Zealand has opened the door to a new front in climate law – one that takes tikanga Māori into account.
If this case succeeds, it could set a precedent to hold major polluters responsible for the effects of climate change – even on the other side of the world.
Australians are increasingly fighting climate change in court. With more than 127 cases in a new United Nations report, Australia comes second only to the United States for climate litigation.
Honolulu, Baltimore, Charleston, S.C. and several other cities harmed by rising seas and extreme weather are suing the oil industry. At stake is who pays for the staggering costs of climate change.
The Federal Court has essentially said it can’t act. But the decision certainly doesn’t mean the government can’t act. In fact, that’s exactly who the judges indicated must.
The urgency of the climate crisis was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic for a while, but the South African government displayed a renewed climate focus over the past year.