Got net-zero news, project updates, or product launches to share? NGOs warn of legal action against EU
Thursday 29 August 2024
Climate watchdogs raise the alarm
Leading environmental groups, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), have sounded the alarm, stating that Europe is veering off course from its climate targets.
The two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have submitted their final arguments in a climate case against the European Union (EU), initiated in February 2024. Their main contention is that the EU’s overall climate aspirations are falling short of the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
In a bid to steer the continent back on track, CAN Europe and GLAN are pushing for significant reductions in emissions by 2030, aiming for a minimum of 65 per cent gross emission cuts. The results of their efforts are eagerly awaited, with a possible hearing at the General Court anticipated in the latter part of 2025 and a final judgment slated for early 2026. A favourable ruling could compel the Commission to review and amplify the national annual emission limits.
The urgency and gravity of this case have been underscored by the President of the General Court of the EU, who fast-tracked its proceedings, recognising its importance on the environmental stage.
Gerry Liston, a Senior Lawyer at GLAN, emphasised the significance of setting science-backed emission targets consistent with the 1.5°C warming target, citing a precedent set by the European Court of Human Rights in April.
He remarked, “We have highlighted that the EU’s 2030 targets are not rooted in the most robust climate science, a fact that the Commission has not contested in its defence. Instead, it has sought to dismiss the case on procedural grounds.”
This legal challenge was made possible by amendments to the Aarhus regulation in 2021, paving the way for NGOs to legally challenge the EU’s environmental decisions.
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