...[A] group of 25 plaintiffs, between 7 and 26 years old, are filing a legal action to demand that the national government protects their rights to a healthy environment, life, health, food, and water. They claim that the rampant deforestation in the Colombian Amazon and climate change are threatening these rights. This is the first climate change litigation in Latin America.

The plaintiffs are filing a tutela – a special figure under the Colombian Constitution used to protect fundamental rights – before the Superior Tribunal of Bogotá.

...The plaintiffs come from 17 cities and municipalities in Colombia, all of which are significantly threatened by climate related impacts. They are asking all levels of government and the relevant Ministries and agencies to halt the deforestation in the Colombian Amazon.They point at President Juan Manuel Santos’ commitment during the 2015 climate change negotiations to reach zero net deforestation by 2020.

[See petition on 350.org here]