European Court Declares Climate Action a Human Right

In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human Rights mandates that states must protect citizens from climate change impacts under human rights law.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland violated human rights by failing to adequately address climate change.
The court's decision establishes a legal precedent, recognizing the protection from climate change effects as a human right.
This ruling could influence future climate litigation and enforce stronger climate action across Europe.
The court did not prescribe specific actions for Switzerland, leaving implementation to national authorities.
Despite dismissing a broader case against 32 nations, the ruling paves the way for future legal challenges on climate inaction.