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unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 05:25 AM Jun 2015

In first, Court orders Dutch gov’t to protect citizens from climate change

http://www.juancole.com/2015/06/protect-citizens-climate.html

In first, Court orders Dutch gov’t to protect citizens from climate change
By contributors | Jun. 28, 2015
The Tree

The Dutch government has put its citizens in danger by failing to address greenhouse gas emissions, a court (has) ruled . . . In a landmark verdict, the judge said the government “must do more to avert the imminent danger caused by climate change” and ordered it to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. This is the first time that a state has been held responsible for climate change action under human rights law. The case, brought by 900 citizens with Dutch NGO Urgenda, was supported by the recently agreed Oslo Principles, which hold governments responsible for their country’s carbon emissions. It may be the first case of its kind, but it will not be the last – already Belgium has launched a similar case against its government and Norway is planning to do so, while in the Philippines citizens are demanding legal action on fossil fuel companies. The results are a massive boost to those who are calling for those responsible for climate change to be brought to account. With today’s verdict a timely reminder that governments have a duty to act on climate change, and as countries submit their climate action plans ahead of the UN climate talks in Paris this December, all eyes will be on how governments turn this obligation into real action.
Key Points

Governments have a duty to act on climate change. Dutch NGO Urgenda sued the Dutch government for knowingly endangering its citizens by failing to address rising greenhouse gas emissions. In a world first, the judge . . . stated that said the government must “do more to avert the imminent danger caused by climate change” and ordered it to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 from 1990 levels – up from the country’s current target of 17 per cent. The verdict is supported by the recently released Oslo Principles, which hold that all governments have a duty to avert dangerous global warming.
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Around the world, citizens are turning to legal action to make their voices heard. The Belgians are following the Dutch example and Norway is planning to do so, while in Oregon in the US, two teenagers filed a lawsuit against their state government for failing to keep their pledge to reduce emissions. People from the Philippines, the island state of Vanuatu and others are calling for legal action against coal, oil and gas companies for “fuelling” global warming, while China has given NGOs the power to sue polluters. Such examples strengthen the growing movement of those who are holding those responsible for climate change to account.

~snip~

Key Quotes

“The Hague District Court has ruled today that the State must take more action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands. The State also has to ensure that the Dutch emissions in the year 2020 will be at least 25% lower than those in 1990. […] The State must do more to avert the imminent danger caused by climate change, also in view of its duty of care to protect and improve the living environment. The State is responsible for effectively controlling the Dutch emission levels. Moreover, the costs of the measures ordered by the court are not unacceptably high. Therefore, the State should not hide behind the argument that the solution to the global climate problem does not depend solely on Dutch efforts. Any reduction of emissions contributes to the prevention of dangerous climate change and as a developed country the Netherlands should take the lead in this”. – Dutch court ruling
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In first, Court orders Dutch gov’t to protect citizens from climate change (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2015 OP
I feel like our government would just order us all to buy hideously expensive gas masks, sump pumps, djean111 Jun 2015 #1
Should 'merican dickheads continue to get their way, unhappycamper Jun 2015 #2
Miami is well on its way. I am not sure that anything can really be done about it at this point in djean111 Jun 2015 #3
 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
1. I feel like our government would just order us all to buy hideously expensive gas masks, sump pumps,
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 08:53 AM
Jun 2015

mops, and buckets. If they even let this sort of thing go to trial. The Dutch are so lucky that the GOP is not in charge of maintaining the dikes that keep the ocean at bay. Amsterdam would be the Venice of Europe. Or something like that.

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
2. Should 'merican dickheads continue to get their way,
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 09:04 AM
Jun 2015

which east coast city is going to become the Venice of America? Miami? Washington, DC? Boston?

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
3. Miami is well on its way. I am not sure that anything can really be done about it at this point in
Sun Jun 28, 2015, 09:14 AM
Jun 2015

time though. And now, of course, Voldemort has forbidden his minions to even utter the words "climate change". My neighborhood is sixty feet above sea level, so I may have waterfront property some day. And Voldemort would not lift a talon, IMO, to help anyone on the coast. No plans, nothing. I realise no one can stop the waters from rising, but there should be some plans for relocation and such being started now. But I guess that would affect real estate profits and taxes.

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