Saul Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer, is suing RWE for climate justice, seeking 17,000 euros for flood defenses due to risks from a melting glacier lake. The case highlights corporate accountability in climate change and could set a legal precedent as it progresses in German courts.
A Peruvian farmer, Saul Luciano Lliuya, is pursuing legal action against the German energy company RWE, seeking what he terms “climate justice.” Lliuya asserts that RWE, recognized as one of the largest carbon dioxide emitters globally, should contribute towards safeguarding his hometown, Huaraz, where rising temperatures have led to a dangerous swelling of a glacier lake threatened by overflow.
He has requested that RWE allocates 17,000 euros (approximately $18,400) for flood defenses, contending that the company’s fossil fuel usage has exacerbated the flood risk faced by his community. Lliuya, aged 44, expressed concern about the melting glaciers and its impact, emphasizing, “It is a risk for me. It is a risk for the more than 50,000 people who live in the danger zone.”
Although Lliuya’s initial lawsuit was dismissed in 2016, a subsequent appeal allowed by the Hamm court may progress the case, especially after delays prompted by the Covid pandemic. Hearings are set from Monday to Wednesday, focused on assessing the flood risk to Lliuya’s property in Peru and examining expert evidence gathered from the region.
Central to Lliuya’s claim is a 2014 study that attributes 0.47 percent of global carbon emissions to RWE since the industrial era’s onset. He argues that this proportion justifies their financial contribution towards the estimated 3.5 million euros necessary to manage the water levels of Lake Palcacocha. RWE maintains that ruling in favor of the plaintiff could establish a precedent for accountability under German law for international environmental damages, which they deem unacceptable.
The Essen court previously ruled out establishing a direct link between emissions and damages, a stance that the Hamm court may reconsider given the rising number of climate-related litigations globally. The law firm representing RWE acknowledges the potential legal implications, despite the relatively modest sum involved in Lliuya’s claim, indicating that this case could influence future climate accountability cases.
In summary, Saul Luciano Lliuya’s lawsuit against RWE spotlights the growing intersection of climate change and legal accountability, particularly between major corporations and communities adversely affected by their emissions. This case, as it progresses through the courts, could reshape legal perspectives on the responsibilities of companies concerning climate damage generated worldwide. It also underscores the broader fight for environmental justice in the face of global climate challenges.
Original Source: www.france24.com
