Historic ruling in France, the state condemned for “climate inaction”
Environment — di Andrea Barolini
The administrative court of Paris found the French government guilty of not having done enough to meet its climate targets.
Historic ruling in France, the state condemned for “climate inaction”
The administrative court of Paris found the French government guilty of not having done enough to meet its climate targets.
France has been condemned for failing to act sufficiently in the fight against climate change. Despite the words, speeches and public statements of President Emmanuel Macron, the European nation cannot therefore claim to be a champion of greenhouse gas emissions reduction. On the contrary, according to the ruling handed down on 3 February by the administrative court of Paris, the government has displayed a "culpable shortcoming" on the issue.
🎉 #LAffaireDuSiècle est HISTORIQUE : l’inaction climatique de l’Etat est jugée ILLÉGALE !
Cette victoire, c’est grâce à vous ! 👏
Restons mobilisé·e·s pour aller➕loin et obtenir de nouvelles victoires. Ensemble nous pouvons faire agir l’Etat concrètement pour le climat ! 👇
Cette victoire, c’est grâce à vous ! 👏
Restons mobilisé·e·s pour aller➕loin et obtenir de nouvelles victoires. Ensemble nous pouvons faire agir l’Etat concrètement pour le climat ! 👇
Judges find France guilty of a "culpable shortcoming" on climate
The initiative, named "L'affaire du siècle" (The case of the century), had been launched in March 2019 by four non-governmental organisations: Notre affaire à tous, Greenpeace, Oxfam and the Foundation of former Minister for Ecological Transition Nicolas Hulot. In recent weeks, the rapporteur public — the magistrate tasked with conducting the investigation and submitting a report to the court — had already firmly sided with them and with the 2.3 million people who supported the legal action.
A view evidently shared by the judges as well. For the environmental organisations, this represents a major victory in what is the "first major climate trial in France". The European nation had in fact committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
And to achieving carbon neutrality — the zeroing out of net CO2 emissions — by 2050. But the concrete actions "are not equal to either the stakes or these targets", the High Council for Climate had already explained in July 2020. Consider that between 2018 and 2019, emissions fell by just 0.9 per cent: a figure far below what is needed to maintain a consistent trajectory.
According to the NGOs, this is a "revolutionary ruling"
"This is a revolutionary ruling," commented Cémentine Baldon, lawyer for the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, as reported by the newspaper Le Monde. "The judges have recognised the responsibility of the state" and climate inaction is now "illegal". "It is a historic victory," Greenpeace added.
🎉 #LAffaireDuSiècle est HISTORIQUE : l’inaction climatique de l’Etat est jugée ILLÉGALE !👏
Restons mobilisé·e·s pour aller➕loin et obtenir de nouvelles victoires. Ensemble nous pouvons faire agir l’Etat concrètement pour le climat ! 👇
Restons mobilisé·e·s pour aller➕loin et obtenir de nouvelles victoires. Ensemble nous pouvons faire agir l’Etat concrètement pour le climat ! 👇
For now, however, the court has not also ordered the state to change its policies. The condemnation consists solely of the symbolic payment of one euro to the four NGOs. The claim for compensation for damages has nonetheless been deemed legitimate — the determination of which could be set out in a new ruling, linked to a further investigation to be carried out over the next two months.