The German government has been mandated by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court to bolster its climate protection program after a ruling declared current measures insufficient to meet the country’s climate targets.
In a statement released on Thursday, the court emphasized that the government is not adhering to the binding emission reduction targets for individual sectors. It pointed out that the existing climate protection program “suffers from methodological shortcomings and is partly based on unrealistic assumptions.”
The decision comes in response to complaints filed by the Environmental Action Germany (DUH). Juergen Resch, director of DUH, welcomed the ruling, stating that the government could “no longer shirk its responsibility for climate protection.”
This landmark ruling highlights the growing judicial pressure on governments worldwide to take more decisive action against climate change. The implications extend beyond Germany, potentially influencing environmental policies and legal actions in other regions, including Asia.
Asian countries, many of which are grappling with rapid industrialization and environmental challenges, may look to this development as a precedent. The court’s decision underscores the pivotal role of the judiciary in enforcing climate commitments and could inspire similar legal actions by environmental groups across the globe.
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German court requires government to step up climate protection
cgtn.com
