In nationwide first civil process on consequences of climate change, Peruvian small farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya has achieved a stage victory against German energy giant RWE. As higher Regional Court in Hamm decided (pdf), procedure for its claim for damages for climate consequences is continued with taking of evidence. The judges were convinced that action was admissible and also conclusively justified. In ErstenInstanz, district Court meal had rejected lawsuit a year ago.
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Lliuya is a small farmer and mountain guide in his home town of Huarez. In his complaint, he argues that lake that lies above city in Andes threatens to overflow through melting of a glacier. In this case, his house would be damaged. The reason for this is climate change that RWE caused by CO2 emissions of its power plants.
To protect his home, Lliuya has issued 6,400 euros for flood protection according to his own information. of RWE, he now demands a stake in se costs. According to Lliuya and his lawyer, RWE emits 0.47 percent of global greenhouse gases. This proportion should be compensated accordingly.
One of evaluators will now clarify wher greenhouse gas emissions produced by RWE have caused defrosting of a glacier in Peru and wher Lliuyas House is in fact acutely threatened by a glacial flood.
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The environmental organisation Germanwatch, which supports plaintiff, evaluated decision as a “historical breakthrough with global relevance”. Even Lliuya himself spoke of a great success. “The companies that contribute significantly to climate change now also have to take responsibility,” said Peruvian. “From now on, it is a matter of proving contribution of RWE to glacial decline in Peru. There’s going to be a long way. But as a mountaineer I am accustomed to long, stony paths. “
RWE, on or hand, was disappointed. One spokesman said that group believes that “it is not possible for civil law to make a single issuer liable for something that countless human and natural sources contribute to anywhere in world.” RWE is Germany’s second largest energy supplier. The group produces majority of its energy with coal-fired power plants.
