ECHR ruling: research group highlights Swiss climate shortcomings

The Swiss government’s recent dismissal of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) landmark climate ruling has raised eyebrows. In its defence, the government argues that national climate policy is adequate, but an independent climate research group questions whether Switzerland is actually on track. On August 28, the Swiss government published its long-awaited position on the verdict against Switzerland issued in April by Europe’s top rights court in the KlimaSeniorinnen case. The court had concluded that Switzerland was not doing enough to tackle climate change. In a statement last week, the government criticised the judges’ broad interpretation of the European Convention of Human Rights regarding climate protection. “It is also of the opinion that Switzerland meets the climate policy requirements of the ruling,” it declared. The government argued that the Strasbourg court ruling had failed to take into account recent climate-related legislation and efforts, notably the revised ...