Climate inaction: Children appeal to Austrian Constitutional Court
The complaint is supported by Fridays for Future.
Here at a demonstration of the movement in September 2021 in Vienna.
"It's a shame, I wanted to stay," reads the sign.
AP - Lisa Leutner
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
These children and adolescents are asking for the revision of a law which, according to them, does not protect them enough from the consequences of global warming.
This approach, unprecedented in Austria, also aims to put pressure on the eco-conservative government.
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With our correspondent in Vienna,
Isaure Hiace
Twelve children and adolescents decided on Tuesday to file a complaint with the Austrian Constitutional Court.
They are between five and sixteen years old and are asking for better protection from the consequences of global warming.
The Austrian law in this area dates from 2011 and it is insufficient in their eyes, not able to protect them properly.
“
In our country, the law on environmental protection does not mention greenhouse gas reduction targets, does not provide for effective measures, or sanction mechanisms.
It is therefore an environmental protection law that does not deserve its name
, ”says lawyer Michaela Krömer, who represents the children.
The complaint is supported by the international Fridays for Future movement, which is very active in Austria.
If his future on the judicial level is complex and uncertain, the goal is also to put pressure on the Austrian government, a coalition between conservatives and environmentalists.
A new law on climate protection has indeed been awaited for two years, but the two partners are unable to reach an agreement.
It remains to be seen whether this complaint will be able to remove these blockages.
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