Today the submission of a fourth climate change case at the European Court of Human Rights was announced. This new application was brought by six young Norwegian climate activists aged between 20 and 27, along with two organisations who allege that their members’ lives, health and well-being are being directly affected by the escalating climate crisis. The six individual applicants also allege that, as young people, they are being disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.
The application concerns the Norwegian State’s decision to license continuing exploration for oil and gas in new areas of the Arctic (Barents Sea), and its intention to bring new fossil fuels to market after 2035.
Citing the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis, the applicants allege that the respondent State has failed to take the precautionary measures of prevention and protection required under Articles 2 and 8 ECHR (the right to life and the right to respect for private and family life, respectively). They furthermore allege a breach of the prohibition of discrimination in Article 14 ECHR. during the domestic court proceedings, as well as a violation of the right of access to an effective domestic remedy under Article 13 ECHR.
The applicants have sought the application of the Court’s priority policy under Rule 41 of the Rules of Court. In the two already-communicated climate cases, Duarte Agostinho v. 33 Member States and Klimaseniorinnen v. Switzerland, the Court has granted the applicants’ request for priority. A third case has not yet been communicated, making this the fourth climate case pending before the ECtHR.
To see the full entry on this case in the CRRP database, click here.