Peruvian Farmer's Climate Lawsuit Against RWE Returns to Court

Saúl Luciano Lliuya seeks partial funding from RWE for flood risk mitigation tied to glacial melt near his home in the Andes.

The case, filed in 2015, argues that RWE's CO2 emissions contribute to climate change, increasing the risk of flooding from the Palcacocha glacier lake in Peru.
Court-appointed experts estimate the likelihood of a flood impacting Lliuya’s property at under 3%, while the plaintiff's supporters argue the risk is significantly higher.
The lawsuit seeks to hold RWE accountable for 0.38% of the costs of protective measures, reflecting its share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
RWE denies liability, stating its emissions comply with legal standards and arguing against individual emitters being held responsible for global climate effects.
The court is currently evaluating whether the flood risk to Lliuya’s property constitutes a legally relevant threat, a decision that will determine if the case proceeds to assessing RWE's responsibility.