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QUOTES-Reaction to Swiss ladies's success in landmark climate lawsuit

Europe's leading human rights court ruled in favour of a group of elderly Swiss women who said their government breached their human rights by not doing enough to combat climate change.

The European Court of Human Being Rights (ECtHR) tossed out 2 similar cases, nevertheless. The very first of those was brought by 6 Portuguese youths versus 32 European federal governments and the 2nd by the previous French mayor of a low-lying seaside town versus the French federal government.

Here are the court's findings and reactions to its judgment:

ECtHR PRESIDENT SIOFRA O'LEARY:

There has actually been an offense of post 8 of the Convention.

The court finds that there were some critical lacunae in the Swiss authorities' process of putting in place the relevant domestic regulatory structure. This included a failure to quantify, through a carbon spending plan or otherwise, nationwide greenhouse gas emissions restrictions.

The respondent state had actually previously stopped working to satisfy its past greenhouse gas emission decrease targets by failing to act in good time and in a suitable and constant manner.

SWISS PRESIDENT VIOLA AMHERD:

I would like to know what the grounds for it are. Sustainability is very important to Switzerland, biodiversity is extremely essential to Switzerland, the net absolutely no target is very essential to Switzerland. We are dealing with those and will continue to work on them with all our strength. This ruling does nothing to change that.

SWISS FEDERAL OFFICE OF JUSTICE:

Together with the authorities concerned, we will now analyse the comprehensive judgment and evaluation what procedures Switzerland will take in the future.

ROSMARIE WYDLER-WAELTI, AMONG LEADERS OF GROUP OF SWISS WOMEN:

We still can't really think it. We keep asking our lawyers, 'is that right?' And they inform us it's the most you might have had. The most significant success possible.

CORDELIA BAEHR, LEAD ATTORNEY FOR THE GROUP OF SWISS WOMEN:

I am absolutely overwhelmed and exceptionally happy that after nine years of extensive work, the senior females have actually finally got their due. This is an inexpressible moment.

JOIE CHOWDHURY, SENIOR LAWYER AT NON-PROFIT CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ECOLOGICAL LAW:

We expect this ruling to affect climate action and environment lawsuits throughout Europe and far beyond. The ruling reinforces the vital role of courts-- both global and domestic-- in holding governments to their legal obligations to safeguard human rights from ecological damage.

SOFIA OLIVEIRA, APPLICANT IN PORTUGUESE YOUTH CASE:

I truly hoped that we would win against all the countries so clearly I'm disappointed that this didn't occur. But the crucial thing is that the Court has stated in the Swiss females's case that governments need to cut their emissions more to secure human rights. So, their win is a win for us too and a. win for everyone.

GRETA THUNBERG, SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST:

It's a betrayal beyond words and today's rulings make extremely. clear that European states have a legal responsibility to take. genuine environment action and to safeguard people and to secure its. citizens.

This is just the beginning of environment litigation ... The. results of this can mean in no other way that we lean back. This suggests. that we need to fight a lot more, given that this is just the. starting. Due to the fact that in an environment emergency, whatever is at. stake.

MARIA DA GRACA CARVALHO, PORTUGUESE ENVIRONMENT MINISTER:

This decision does not reduce our aspiration and our. obligation towards environment action. A crucial legal. effort has actually been made at European and nationwide level in this. area. Portugal has enthusiastic objectives for reducing greenhouse. gas emissions, intending to attain carbon neutrality by 2045, five. years ahead of the targets set by the EU.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE:

The Commission keeps in mind of these rulings and will of. course be studying them really carefully. However regardless of the. legal arguments, what these cases do is they advise us of the. high importance and urgency which our residents connect to environment. action..

(source: Reuters)