The Portuguese young people who filed a complaint against 32 countries, including Portugal, for inaction in the fight against global warming are today aware of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The case of “Duarte Agostinho and others against Portugal and other States” reaches its conclusion today.
Speaking to Lusa on Monday, Sofia and André Oliveira, two of the young people who filed the complaint, refuse to give up even if the outcome is unfavorable.
“One thing is certain, we will not stop, regardless of the outcome. We won’t stop fighting to force governments to protect our future from climate change. If we win, we know that this movement will come together to put pressure on governments to comply with the ECtHR’s decision,” the two young people told Lusa.
And even if the victory is only partial, Sofia and André, aged 16 and 19, want to “encourage people” to take part in the movement that wants to work towards a “future for all”.
Gerry Liston, a lawyer involved in the case, acknowledged that a favorable outcome “will strengthen” the climate change movement by setting a judicial precedent when there are lawsuits over government inaction.
“There has been an exponential growth in climate litigation. Then it’s going to take an effort from everyone in this movement, from civil society, from activists on the ground to put pressure on governments to implement the decision we’re waiting for. The law and efforts outside the courts are mutually reinforcing,” added the lawyer, who belongs to the non-profit organization Global Legal Action Network.
On September 27 of last year, the six young people were heard by the ECHR, which found that the states had downplayed climate change and ignored evidence.
Going to court against countries’ inaction on climate change is becoming more and more common, according to a recent UN report, in which cases have more than doubled in five years.
The judgment will be read out at a public hearing in Strasbourg (France) at 10:30 local time (09:30 in Lisbon).
