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Reshaping climate justice

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KlimaSeniorinnen unpacked: David Lawne, Luke Grimes & Ginevra Bicciolo discuss the first successful climate change case grounded in European Convention rights
  • In a seminal judgment delivered in April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights found for the first time that a country’s failure to combat climate change constitutes a violation of human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.
  • The ruling sets a low bar for associations to have standing to bring climate change cases, likely shaping the future landscape of climate litigation.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) recently delivered judgments in three groundbreaking climate cases: Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz et al v Switzerland (App No 53600/20), [2024] ECHR 53600/20, Carême v France (App no 7189/21), and Duarte Agostinho et al v Austria et al (App no 39371/20).

For the first time, litigants argued before the court that the European Convention on Human Rights imposes obligations on states to combat the effects of climate change. The court’s verdict promises to reshape the landscape of climate litigation in Europe.

While

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
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