Group from region hit by deadly forest fires to sue 47 countries alleging failure to tackle climate change threatens their right to lifePortuguese schoolchildren from the area struck by the country’s worst forest fires are seeking crowdfunding to sue 47 European countries, alleging that the states’ failure to tackle climate change threatens their right to life. The children, from the Leiria region of central Portugal, where fires this summer killed more than 60 people and left hundreds injured, are being represented by British barristers who are experts in environmental and climate change law. Some experts have blamed the increase in forest fires in Europe on climate change. The case is also being taken to raise public awareness about what Glan says are the shortcomings in government policies on climate change. Three judges ordered the Dutch government to cut its emissions by 25% by 2020, saying their lower targets were unlawful given the scale of the threat posed by climate change.

Source: The Guardian September 24, 2017 22:52 UTC