Peruvian farmers bring German energy giant RWE to court to hold polluters accountable
Hamm, Germany (AP) – German courts began hearing cases against major energy company RWE on Monday, a lawsuit that argues that global warming of the company’s historical greenhouse gas emissions would ultimately pose risks to his home.
Experts say that in the case of state courts in Hamm, western Germany, major polluters can be held accountable for climate change in the struggle.
Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s lawsuit against RWE believes the company’s historical greenhouse gas emissions have promoted global warming and accelerated glacier melting, above his hometown of Huaraz, Peru. As a result, Lake Palcacho has expanded to dangerous levels, threatening the risk of catastrophic flooding.
RWE, which has never operated in Peru, denies legal liability, arguing that climate change is a global problem caused by many contributors.
Luiya said outside the court that mountains, glaciers and lakes “give us water, give us life.” But “glacials are melting and disappearing little by little. Some lakes, like Palcacocha — are a risk for people who have over 50,000 people living in areas at risk.”
He cheered to his supporters: “This day, this day, we have been waiting for 10 years.” “I’m very excited; I hope everything goes well.”
Roda Verheyen, chief attorney in the complaint, said she was “calm but hopeful”. “There is no time to lose because the glaciers melt every day,” she said.
RWE “still be one of the largest carbon dioxide emitters in the entire Europe,” Verheyen said. “This is just an initial first step – a trampoline, for further this case,” which can be targeted at other transmitters.
RWE believes that the lawsuit is legally unacceptable and sets dangerous precedents for dangerous precedents by putting individual transmitters accountable for global climate change. It insists that climate solutions should be addressed through state and international policies rather than courts.
Judges and experts from Germany visited Peru in 2022 and the court is expected to consider the risks that may pose to the Lliuya House in its expert reports on Monday and Wednesday. It is not clear whether the conclusions about the case will be announced this week.
___
The Associated Press’s climate and environmental coverage has received financial support from several private foundations. AP is responsible for all content. Find criteria for working with charity, which is the list of supporters and coverage of funding for AP.org.
