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All aboard to ‘Litigation Station’ this week, as citizens across Europe take their climate complaints to court with three different lawsuits focusing on climate inaction.  

The first case being heard next Wednesday focuses on the health impact of climate change-induced heatwaves, in a case brought by thousands of elderly Swiss women against the Swiss government as part of a six-year legal battle. Look out for any updates on next week’s case on the Reuters Sustainable Business page. 

The second case is from a member of the European Parliament for the French Green party who is challenging France’s refusal to take more ambitious climate measures. And the third case concerns six Portuguese youths who are taking on 33 countries – including all 27 European Union member states, Britain, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. This case is due to be heard after the summer. 

1.  Explainer: Have European countries violated human rights through climate inaction?

Citizens affected by climate change are suing the governments of more than 30 European countries in three separate cases before the European Court of Human Rights, alleging that state inaction has violated their human rights. 

A drone image shows San Biagio island, affected by drought in Lake Garda, near Lido di Manerba, Italy, February 21, 2023. REUTERS/Alex Fraser/File Photo

2. Oil spills and near misses: more ghost tankers ship sanctioned fuel 

An oil tanker runs aground off eastern China, leaking fuel into the water. Another is caught in a collision near Cuba. A third is seized in Spain for drifting out of control. These vessels were part of a “shadow” fleet of tankers carrying oil last year from countries hit by Western sanctions, according to a Reuters analysis of ship tracking and accident data and interviews with more than a dozen industry specialists. 

3. Explainer: The business of water 

The United Nations wants to get people talking in New York this week about investing in safe water, sanitation and hygiene, which it describes as “the most basic human need for health and wellbeing”. Many investors now state an aim to generate returns while also improving water access and quality. Here are some examples of the business of water. 

4. Heavy rainfall in Peru slammed infrastructure, losses seen at $323 mln 

The heavy rains that recently struck Peru have racked up at least $323 million in infrastructure damage, a senior minister said, as residents of hard-hit areas turn their focus to repairing water-logged homes and businesses. 

5. EU lawmakers toughen up draft law on environmental crimes 

European Union lawmakers toughened up a draft law to crack down on illegal timber trade and other crimes against the environment, with sanctions that include imprisonment for up to 10 years for the most serious offenses. 

Environmentalists are wary that the construction of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, would disturb some of Borneo’s endemic fauna, including endangered long-nosed monkeys, Irrawaddy dolphins and orangutans. Click on the video for more.

Large companies, including asset manager Franklin Templeton and web-services provider Akamai Technologies, joined an effort to defend sustainable investment practices from a backlash by U.S. Republican politicians.  

Republicans, often from energy-producing states, have sought to block the growing use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations by shareholders and corporate executives. Earlier this week U.S. President Joe Biden used his first veto to reject restrictions on ESG factors by pension fund managers. 

 NZ$890 million 

Insurance companies in New Zealand have received 40,000 claims worth around NZ$890 million ($560 million) for damage from a cyclone that hit the country last month, said the Insurance Council of New Zealand. 

Reuters Daily Briefing

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