LEGAL BATTLE TO STEM CLIMATE CHANGE TAKES CRUCIAL TURN

THE Climate Change battle has finally reached the shores of the First World.

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The fallout of destructive wildfires, extreme heat, flooding and scorching drought is now that has killed thousands in the back of beyond in Africa, or Pakistan and India overwhelming Europe, Canada and the US. Europe's chickens have come home to roost.

In an import gesture of defiance, 6 young persons aged 11 to 24 from various regions in Portugal have filed cases against 32 European governments. They charge these countries of not working fast enough to stem climate change; and there by violate the fundamental rights to life, and to their physical and mental well being.

It is the largest ever climate change challenge to be heard by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. A ruling is expected by early 2024. Fought by the British Global Legal Action Network, if the case is upheld it could mean governments, through their national courts, will be directed to cut carbon emissions with specific targets.

Portugal, where these young people hail from, has been overwhelmed by wildfires in the last few years. Eleven years old Marina, one of the petitioners, recalls her trauma when in 2017 her region saw 50,000 acres of forest burnt to cinders, and her home threatened with ash and heat. This year too, parts of Portugal hit 46 degrees C, and over 15,000 acres was lost to wildfires. The story has been the same in Spain and Canada.

First World stirs