"The Affair of the Century": "This is the first climate trial in France" -

20 Minutes

  • The Paris administrative court finally found the state responsible for "shortcomings in the fight against climate change".

  • Four environmental defense associations had assigned the state in March 2019.

  • “It was a strong and moving moment when the judgment was handed to us, because we discovered that the judge had decided to follow the recommendations of the public rapporteur,” says Cécilia Rinaudo, of Notre Affaire à Tous.

“It is a day that will be a milestone in history!

»Cécilia Rinaudo, from Notre Affaire à Tous, rejoices.

In the “Affair of the Century”, the Paris administrative court finally found the state responsible for “failings in the fight against climate change”.

That is to say decades of climate inaction put on the bench of the judge, and a major battle won by the environmental defense associations which assigned the State in March 2019.

“It was a strong and moving moment when the judgment was handed over to us, because we discovered that the judge had decided to follow the recommendations of the public rapporteur,” says Cécilia Rinaudo.

A little more than two weeks ago, before the administrative court, the magistrate had, in fact, estimated, in her conclusions, that there was indeed "a fault of the State in not having respected its trajectory of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions ”.

A decision that had delighted the environmental activists of the four NGOs (the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, Greenpeace, Notre Affaire à Tous and Oxfam) at the origin of this first climate trial

made in France

.

Recognition of ecological damage

"The judge, through this decision, recognized the effects but also the dangers of climate change," said the activist.

Recognized responsible for "ecological damage", the State is thus notified to catch up as quickly as possible in the fight for the climate.

“Until now, recognition of ecological damage only existed in private law,” explains Cécilia Rinaudo.

This decision is therefore historic for France, but also at the international level ”.

The administrative court nevertheless left the door ajar to allow the State to rectify the situation and show its white paw, leaving it two months to "take all the measures to achieve the objectives that France has set itself in this matter reduction in greenhouse gas emissions ”.

And to reserve his answer concerning the injunctions to act that could be taken if nothing was done by then.

“This is just the start,” says Cécilia Rinaudo.

It's a huge first victory.

This means that today, denying the urgency of climate action has become a mistake ”.

Mobilization pays off!

We were 2.3 million in 2018 to raise the fault of the state for climate inaction



The state is today condemned, and the judge even reserves the possibility of giving orders to act within 2 months



Climate inaction is no longer tolerated!

https://t.co/2GtOkTSXET

- Marie Toussaint 🌍🌏 (@ marietouss1) February 3, 2021

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