Young Portuguese teaching the world how to fight for change

There are six young Portuguese people, aged 11 to 22, who are suing 32 countries at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, in a case they have been working on since at least 2020. Sofia, André, Mariana, Martim, Cláudia and Catarina are suing all the countries of the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey.

One of the bases of their argument is that these states, which obviously include Portugal, are not doing everything they can to protect their lives, thus violating the second article of the European Convention on Human Rights, which refers to the right to life. In addition, they feel that their right to privacy is being violated because climate change is forcing them to stay indoors more because of the heatwaves and cold snaps. Finally, the young people feel that they are being discriminated against because states are not taking the necessary measures to combat the causes of climate change that affect them. The young people are not asking for money, but for the states to act - that is their demand.

The process will not be easy. The governments defending the accused countries argue that the young people do not provide sufficient evidence that there is a direct causal link between national climate policies and the physical and mental damage they claim climate change has caused them. But the tone of the international news, commentators and attentive civil society is one of great hope.

Kate Higham, Policy Fellow at the Grantham Institute of the London School of Economics, speaking to Euronews, said that a positive decision would be a breakthrough in climate litigation. It could be used to strengthen arguments in domestic climate cases against governments and, potentially, against companies.

Let's wait.

Update (28092023): here the recording of the audience - worth seeing at least pieces and extremely relevant for the sake of history