Tipping Point (2/5): Climate Justice - Can the courts solve the climate crisis?

In Germany, a Peruvian smallholder farmer and mountain guide is
suing a big energy company over a melting glacier that threatens
his valley. In the Netherlands, citizens have won a lawsuit in the
first instance to pressure their government into guaranteeing
stronger climate protection. In the Philippines, the Commission on
Human Rights is investigating the fossil-fuel industry. Can
governments and industry be put on trial in climate cases, to
ensure the rights of the most vulnerable and future generations?
The livelihoods of hundreds of millions could be threatened by
unprecedented storms, droughts, floods, and sea-level rise. While
having contributed little to the problem, they will be the hardest
hit. In the political arena, the discussion around climate-related
losses and damages has revolved mostly around financial support.
But the underlying justice issues remain unsolved. So now,
advocates around the world are spearheading lawsuits to protect the
climate and those affected. In this episode, we explore the new
movement with two experts in climate litigation, lawyers Tessa Khan
and Roda Verheyen. Photo: CC BY 2.0 Dan4th Nicholas / Flickr