By Kimone Witter
A European court in France on Tuesday ruled that Switzerland's failure to adequately tackle the climate crisis was in violation of human rights, in a landmark climate judgment that could have a ripple effect across the globe.
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France delivered its ruling in a case brought by more than 2,000 Swiss women, the majority of whom are in their 70s, against Switzerland's government.
They argued that climate change-fueled heat waves undermined their health and quality of life, and put them at risk of dying.
The court ruled that the Swiss government had violated some of the women's human rights due to critical gaps in its national legislation to reduce planet-heating emissions, as well as a failure to meet past climate targets.
The court said this amounted to a breach of the women's rights to effective protection from the serious adverse effects of climate change on lives, health, well-being and quality of life.
It marks the first time the court has ruled on climate litigation.
There is no right of appeal and the judgment is legally binding.
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