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German Court Rejects Peruvian Farmer’s Climate Suit Against RWE

Minimal local flood danger led the court to dismiss the claim under emerging standards for corporate climate liability

Saul Luciano Lliuya posiert für ein Foto vor dem Palcacocha-See in Huaraz.
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Overview

  • On May 28, 2025 the Higher Regional Court in Hamm dismissed Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s appeal, concluding his flood risk was not high enough to warrant further proceedings.
  • Lliuya initially sued RWE in 2015, arguing the company’s CO₂ emissions accelerated Andean glacier melt and seeking $17,500 for a flood protection project.
  • After a 2016 loss at the Essen Regional Court, the Hamm court accepted the case on appeal in 2017 and held hearings through March 2025.
  • Attorney Roda Verheyen hailed the verdict as a landmark for recognizing that large emitters can face liability for climate-related harms.
  • RWE warned that accepting liability could expose any greenhouse gas emitter to similar claims under German law.