Greenpeace together with German groups BUND and Deutsche Umwelthilfe filed the legal actions, which are also backed by Luisa Neubauer, a prominent activist of the Fridays for Future climate strike movement. "Climate protection is the protection of fundamental rights, particularly those of younger generations and inhabitants of most affected countries," said Remo Klinger, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. The environmental groups had already backed three farmer families who took their case to a Berlin administrative court last year, but that case was struck down by the judge. Merkel's government last year agreed on a sweeping package of climate policy reforms that are estimated to cost 100 billion euros by 2030. Environmental issues divide GermanyBut climate activists argue that the plan is too weak to halt the planet from hurtling towards irreversible and devastating warming.

Source: The Local January 15, 2020 13:18 UTC