Webinar: KlimaSeniorinnen v Switzerland: what happens next?

In April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a pivotal
ruling in the case of KlimaSeniorinnen and Others v. Switzerland. The
decision has been hailed by legal scholars as a landmark judgment, one
that may “transform” climate litigation in Europe and beyond (Bönnemann
& Tigre). However, nine months on, questions about the real-world
impact of the judgment remain unanswered.

The ruling affirmed that climate change poses a direct and
substantial threat to human rights and cemented the obligation of states
to undertake effective climate action. On the evidence before it, the
Court held that there were several “critical lacunae” in Switzerland’s
climate action.

In October 2024, the Swiss government submitted an action report in
response to the decision. It argues that, thanks to measures agreed
since the Court issued its judgment, Switzerland is now compliant with
the Court’s requirements. This position is disputed by lawyers for the
plaintiffs. In this event, we will explore the background to the case
and what might happen next, picking over the thorny issues raised by the
case and Switzerland’s response. We will consider how this case fits
into the broader landscape of climate litigation cases against states
(known as “government framework cases”), and its implications for the
effectiveness of climate litigation as a tool for influencing climate
governance.

Speakers

• Kate Higham, Senior Policy Fellow, Grantham Research Institute (Chair)
• Dennis van Berkel, Legal Counsel of the Urgenda Foundation and Strategic Advisor Climate Litigation Network
• Başak Çalı, Professor of International Law, Oxford Bonavero Institute of Human Rights
• Vetle Magne Seierstad, Legal Advisor, Norwegian Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

How to join

This webinar is free to join but you will need to register in advance via Zoom.