Increasing number of legal complaints against companies over climate change responsibility
"Around the world in 5 climate change lawsuits", 9 Jun 2015
...Saul Luciano Lliuya is arguing that German energy firm RWE should pay compensation for its historic activities. The Peruvian farmer lives in the floodpath of a glacial lake that is on the verge of bursting its banks as greenhouse gases heat up the climate. He is asking RWE...to pay €20,000 towards work to protect the valley...[A] victory would open the floodgates for thousands if not millions of claims. In May, RWE rejected the claim, denying responsibility for the risks faced by Luciano Lliuya...In a similar vein...Greenpeace is looking at ways to sue fossil fuel majors...Along with local campaign groups, it is drumming up a petition to get the Philippines Commission on Human Rights to investigate...Greenpeace will argue the likes of Gazprom, Glencore Xstrata and Exxon Mobil are violating the human rights of Filipinos by profiting from climate-polluting energy...Pacific island leaders last month declared their intention to challenge these carbon giants in the courts. Kristin Caspar, legal counsel for Greenpeace, told RTCC: “The courts, as we have seen, are a powerful platform to hear the concerns about climate harm...