#ClimateLitigation developments in Italy 🇮🇹
Today the Civil Court of Rome will hear arguments in the climate case #GiudizioUniversale, targeting the Italian State's failure to adequately protect its residents from dangerous climate change.🧵Why this case matters:
1/ It’s the first time that civil society launches a legal action targeting Italy's structural failure to reduce GHG emissions. The case was filed on behalf of 162 residents, 17 children, @ASudOnlus + 23 other NGOs, with the support of movements such as @XrItaly and @fffitalia
2/ On the basis of the Italian civil code, they ask the Court to:
▫️Establish that the State's climate inaction and significant delay = unlawful conduct.
▫️Order the State to reduce GHG emissions in compliance with the long-term temperature goal of the #ParisAgreement.
3/ In order to do its part to tackle the #ClimateEmergency and keep 1.5°C within reach, Italy should achieve a 92% emissions reduction by 2030/1990 levels. This percentage was identified by @CA_Latest climate scientists in a report submitted to the Court bit.ly/3HGYPzX
4/ However, evidence shows that Italy's efforts are inadequate:
🔴Government agency @ISPRA_Press notes that Italian GHG emissions are on the rise /2020 levels (04.2022).
🔴@EU_Eurostat also states that emissions have been increasing in Italy /pre-pandemic levels (05.2022).
5/ Climate Analytics also notes that:
🔴Implementation of planned climate policies (2021) would only lead to a 36% GHG reduction by 2030 /1990 levels.
🔴If other countries were to follow Italy's example, this would likely lead to unprecedented warming of more than 3°C by 2100.
6/ According to @ASudOnlus spokesperson @maricadipierri, the State concedes in the context of the litigation that its current climate policies are inadequate, but denies liability stating that "no one can be required to achieve the impossible".
7/ Climatologist @Luca_Mercalli, plaintiff: "I have spent most of my scientific career surrounded by statements and declarations about environmental sustainability [...] but these announcements have never been followed by action. That is why I am suing the Italian state" (2021)
#ClimateLitigation developments in Australia: Uncle Pabai & Paul, First Nations leaders from the Torres Strait, are taking the Australian Govt to court for its climate failures. They're asking for a court order requiring the Govt to increase its climate mitigation efforts 🧵
1/ This legal action, supported by @GrataFund, is a historic tort law case against the Australian Government, targeting its failure to protect Indigenous communities - who live on low lying islands in the Torres Strait - from climate harm.
2/ The case has been brought by Uncle Pabai Pabai and Uncle Paul Kabai who will argue that the Australian Government has a ‘duty of care’ to protect their island homes.
At #COP27 the Italian Prime Minister stated that “Italy will provide its fair share”. Glad you brought that up @GiorgiaMeloni - as climate scientists have already calculated Italy's fair share, the amount of emissions that 🇮🇹 should reduce to do its part to tackle climate change:
1/ In order to do its fair share to tackle the #ClimateEmergency and keep 1.5°C within reach, Italy should pursue a 92% emissions reduction by 2030/1990 levels. This percentage was identified by @CA_Latest climate scientists in a report published in 2021: bit.ly/3HGYPzX
2/ However, evidence shows that Italy's efforts are inadequate:
🔴Government agency @ISPRA_Press notes that Italian GHG emissions are on the rise /2020 levels (04.2022).
🔴@EU_Eurostat also states that emissions have been increasing in Italy /pre-pandemic levels (05.2022).
#ClimateLitigation developments in Italy 🇮🇹 What happened at the hearings held by the Civil Court of Rome in #GiudizioUniversale, the case targeting Italy’s failure to fight climate change? 🧵Thread:
1/10 In the course of the trial, lawyers for the plaintiffs submitted evidence on both the gravity of the climate emergency and the inadequate measures taken by the State: inaction exposes people to dangerous climate change and triggers a violation of fundamental human rights⚠️
2/10 However, the State described the climate case brought by @ASudOnlus as “an intrusion” undermining the power of political institutions. It claimed full immunity for its conduct, i.e. the impossibility for the Court to evaluate the lawfulness of its climate action.