A South Korean court hears a case of children against the government related to climate change : Konkurent.bg

25/04/2024 09:20

In one of the highest judicial instances in South Korea, a court session began yesterday in a case filed against the government by about 20 young climate activists, Reuters reported.

Activists say authorities have failed to tackle climate change.

According to the applicants, the Constitutional Court hearing is the first climate-related case in Asia. Four complaints were filed on behalf of children and infants.

The trial in South Korea began just weeks after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Swiss government had violated the rights of its citizens by not doing enough to combat climate change. Similar cases are currently underway in Australia, Brazil and Peru.

“South Korea’s current climate plans are not sufficient to keep temperature increases within 1.5 degrees Celsius, thereby violating the country’s obligations to protect basic human rights,” the complainants said in a statement.

Fossil fuel burning and carbon emissions are linked to rising temperatures, and South Korea’s economy relies heavily on such fuels for growth. The country aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Lawyers for the government told the court that the authorities are making every possible effort to reduce carbon emissions and not violate the fundamental rights of citizens. According to them, the government does not discriminate against the young and changes in the annual targets for reducing carbon emissions will be possible.

According to some activists, the government’s response has been unsatisfactory.

Last year, South Korea revised its 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector, but kept its national target of reducing emissions by 40% from 2018 levels, calling it a reasonable adjustment.