logo
How One Farmer's Climate Lawsuit Could Lead To A Win For The Planet

How One Farmer's Climate Lawsuit Could Lead To A Win For The Planet

Forbes01-06-2025
17 March 2025, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamm: Peruvian mountain farmer and mountain guide Saul ... More Luciano Lliuya (r) arrives at the Higher Regional Court for the hearing of his climate lawsuit against energy company RWE and talks to journalists. Geoscientists and structural engineers appointed by the court are to present their expert opinions. The issue at stake is the danger posed to the plaintiff's house in South America by a tidal wave or mudslide. The plaintiff accuses the German company of being partly responsible for climate change due to the CO2 emissions it produces. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa (Photo by Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images)
A farmer's climate lawsuit is a win for the planet. Recently, a German court quietly ended a landmark legal battle that had spanned nearly a decade. In Lliuya v. RWE, a Peruvian farmer and mountain guide, Saúl Luciano Lliuya, sued Germany's largest utility company, RWE, over its historic carbon emissions and the resulting impact on his hometown of Huaraz.
Though the Higher Regional Court of Hamm ruled against Lliuya, stating that he had not sufficiently demonstrated imminent danger or direct causation, the case represents something far more significant than a legal loss. It marks another pivotal moment in the evolving global discourse on climate accountability, climate justice, and how courts will address the issue of liability in an era of planetary risk.
Lliuya first went to court in 2015. He claimed that glacial melt driven by global warming had swollen a lake above his town, threatening a catastrophic flood. He asked RWE, a company responsible for roughly 0.47% of global historical emissions, to pay for protective measures proportional to its emissions. It was a novel request, but one that resonated with growing legal and ethical arguments about polluters' responsibilities to communities on the frontlines of climate change.
HUARAZ, PERU - MAY 23: Saul Luciano Lliuya (41), Peruvian farmer and mountain guide who filed a ... More lawsuit against the German electricity consortium RWE, visits the lake Palcacocha in Huaraz, Peru on May 23, 2022. (Photo by Angela Ponce for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
In many ways, this case echoed others around the world, including youth-led lawsuits like Held v. Montana. In that case, a state court ruled that Montana had violated young residents' constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by promoting fossil fuel development. While Lliuya v. RWE did not secure a similar victory, it represents a similar trend of individuals and communities using the legal system to seek remedy and accountability in the face of government inaction and corporate pollution.
Climate litigation of this kind presents unique legal challenges. How do courts trace global emissions back to individual corporations? Can one company be held liable for incremental damage when the crisis is collective?
The court in Lliuya v. RWE essentially said no, at least not with the evidence presented. But the fact that the case advanced as far as it did is noteworthy. Most climate lawsuits do not survive procedural hurdles, let alone reach a stage where climate science and corporate responsibility are discussed in depth.
This case forced a European court to consider whether a corporation could be liable for climate-related damage across borders. Even without a favorable ruling, the legal framework it helped shape may influence other jurisdictions. Just as U.S. courts are beginning to take youth-led climate lawsuits more seriously, international courts may one day revisit Lliuya's argument with a different outcome.
The decision may be a disappointment to many climate advocates, but it is not a dead end. It is a milestone in what some legal scholars call "strategic litigation.' This is the use of the legal system not just to win individual cases, but to influence policy, raise awareness, and build momentum for broader change.
The RWE decision also arrives at a moment of heightened scrutiny for corporate climate commitments. Even as some fossil fuel companies tout their decarbonization plans, many continue to invest heavily in fossil infrastructure.
Policymakers and regulators now have an opportunity to step in where courts have hesitated. The legal questions raised by Lliuya's lawsuit could inform new laws or treaties addressing transnational environmental harm. As the world approaches COP30 and new rounds of climate finance negotiations, Lliuya's effort may serve as a moral and rhetorical guidepost.
The Higher Regional Court of Hamm may have ruled against Saúl Luciano Lliuya, but the larger movement for corporate climate accountability has gained steam. As Lliuya's case moved along in Peru, activists in Canada pushed for stronger climate disclosure standards. The legislative measure failed, but the Canadian courts issued a ruling in favor of youth climate litigants alleging government responsibility for climate change impacts. Both groups vowed to fight on, 'We were significantly disappointed with Canada's first-ever sustainability disclosure standards released last month. These new regulations are a welcome step forward, but they still fail to respond to crucial problems for our specific context in Canada. In 2025, we will continue the fight for strong sustainable finance regulation that meets international standards.'
If nothing else, Lliuya's decade-long fight reminds us that the climate crisis is personal, political, and legal. Each lawsuit, whether it ends in victory or not, helps redraw the boundaries of responsibility. In that sense, this case was never just about a glacial lake in Peru. It was about charting new paths to justice on a warming planet.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter
Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter

CNN

time21 minutes ago

  • CNN

Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter

Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter President Donald Trump says he doesn't know about a lewd letter bearing his name that the Wall Street Journal reported was included in a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein. The July 17 story described a collection of letters gifted to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, including a note bearing Trump's name and an outline of a naked woman. Trump filed a lawsuit the next day against the newspaper's publisher, claiming defamation 'because no authentic letter or drawing exists.' 00:44 - Source: CNN 'South Park' skewers Trump after signing new Paramount deal In their first episode of the season, the creators of "South Park" mocked President Donald Trump and Paramount after they just signed a new $1.5 billion contract. Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance Media and needs the Trump-influenced FCC to approve the deal. 01:24 - Source: CNN Erin Burnett on the significance of Trump knowing he's in the Epstein files CNN's Erin Burnett explains how reports that President Trump was briefed that he is named in the Epstein files shine a light on his recent denials of that exact claim. 02:13 - Source: CNN Judge declines to release Epstein grand jury documents A Florida federal judge declined to release additional grand jury documents from the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, marking the first roadblock in the Justice Department's efforts to quell the public backlash over the handling of the case. CNN's Evan Perez reports. 02:43 - Source: CNN Kaitlan Collins asks Tulsi Gabbard if she's targeting Obama to improve her standing with Trump 00:51 - Source: CNN Trump announces US-Japan trade deal President Donald Trump announced a long-awaited trade agreement with Japan on Tuesday night, a framework between the allies and major trading partners that appeared elusive just weeks ago. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout breaks down what's in the deal. 00:46 - Source: CNN What's behind White House attacks on the Fed Chair? White House advisers are ramping up attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. CNN's Phil Mattingly explains why the Trump Administration could make Powell's life miserable, even as the President says he has no plan to fire him. 02:09 - Source: CNN Johnson shuts door on House vote before Sept. to release Epstein files Speaker Mike Johnson said he does not plan to allow votes on any measures related to the Jeffrey Epstein case before September, despite intense pressure from some of his own GOP members. 01:10 - Source: CNN Jon Stewart slams CBS for canceling 'Late Show' "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart slammed CBS during his first broadcast since Stephen Colbert announced "The Late Show" would not return beyond May 2026. Some critics alleged the cancellation of Colbert's show is an effort to smooth the parent company's desired merger with Skydance Media. CBS cited financial reasons for discontinuing the show. 01:49 - Source: CNN Epstein accuser recounts Trump's late-night visit to Epstein's office Jeffrey Epstein accuser Maria Farmer talks to CNN's Erin Burnett about an interaction she had with President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein when she was 25. The White House denies that President Trump visited Jeffrey Epstein's office 03:44 - Source: CNN Will Commanders' billionaire owners give in to Trump? President Donald Trump has threatened to restrict a stadium deal with the NFL's Washington Commanders if they don't change the team name back to 'Redskins.' CNN Contributor and Prime Video host of "The Cari Champion Show" Cari Champion says she has 'a hard time believing' the owners will capitulate. 02:10 - Source: CNN An inside look at one of the most coveted offices in the US Capitol Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) gives CNN's Dana Bash a tour of his office once occupied by the late Senator John McCain, as well as a "hideaway" that offers an impressive view and backdrop for bipartisan discussions both senators are known for. 02:17 - Source: CNN Harvard takes on Trump administration in court Harvard University was back in court for a hearing in its funding fight case against the Trump administration, who froze more than $2 billion in federal funding for research this Spring. Harvard lawyer Steven Lehotsky argued the government is in 'blatant and unrepentant violation' of the First Amendment, as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. CNN's Betsy Klein reports. 01:51 - Source: CNN Democrats walk out before vote for controversial Trump nominee Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans voted on Thursday to advance the nomination of Emil Bove, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, to a federal judgeship, over the loud protests of Democrats. 01:42 - Source: CNN Trump's 'Manosphere' problems Influential podcasters with large audiences of millennial and Gen Z men helped propel President Donald Trump to victory in 2024. Now some of those same voices are sharing criticisms of the current administration. CNN's Steve Contorno breaks it down. 01:56 - Source: CNN Trump DOJ fires federal prosecutor in Epstein case Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor in the case against accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, has been fired from her job in the Southern District of New York, according to people familiar with the situation. 01:56 - Source: CNN Bernie Sanders calls Trump's GOP 'cult of the individual' Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) tells CNN's Anderson Cooper that Republicans developed an almost Stalinist-type devotion to President Donald Trump. 00:45 - Source: CNN This Native American senator brings Oklahoma ranch style to Washington Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) gives CNN's Dana Bash a tour of his Capitol office, which showcases his Cherokee heritage and rancher lifestyle. 02:35 - Source: CNN Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino COO Jack O'Donnell about one of President Trump's previous interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. 02:27 - Source: CNN Fearing ICE crackdown, this family self-deports Fearing increased immigration enforcement, undocumented immigrant Julio Mendoza and his American wife, Sasha, made the difficult decision to self-deport to Mexico with their three children, all of whom are US Citizens. CNN's Priscilla Alvarez reports. 01:35 - Source: CNN

President Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter bearing his name
President Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter bearing his name

CNN

timean hour ago

  • CNN

President Trump responds to report about Epstein birthday letter bearing his name

President Donald Trump says he doesn't know about a lewd letter bearing his name that the Wall Street Journal reported was included in a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein. The July 17 story described a collection of letters gifted to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, including a note bearing Trump's name and an outline of a naked woman. Trump filed a lawsuit the next day against the newspaper's publisher, claiming defamation 'because no authentic letter or drawing exists.'

Justice Dept. Officials File Suit, Saying They Were Dismissed Unlawfully
Justice Dept. Officials File Suit, Saying They Were Dismissed Unlawfully

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

Justice Dept. Officials File Suit, Saying They Were Dismissed Unlawfully

Three former Justice Department employees who were fired as part of the Trump administration's politicization of the agency have pushed back in a new lawsuit, arguing that they were dismissed unlawfully and in violation of normal civil service protections. The three individuals, including a federal attorney who earned regular distinctions for his work prosecuting rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, contended that the Trump administration disregarded the standard protections for civil servants that prohibit arbitrary firings. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Washington, is predicated on the paralysis at the Merit Systems Protection Board. The board typically adjudicates claims of improper firings and has the power to reinstate improperly fired workers. But President Trump fired its head, Cathy Harris, a Democrat, in February, leaving the traditionally bipartisan board without a quorum and effectively paralyzing the only venue where civil servants can fight on their own behalf. 'In a normal course of proceedings, plaintiffs would be able to seek recourse through the Merit Systems Protection Board,' the lawsuit says. 'But because of the government's own actions, any complaint filed before the M.S.P.B. will be futile.' Under federal statute, fired workers have the right to appeal their firings to the board, and then to a federal appeals court. 'However, due to the government's own actions to stymie the board, the M.S.P.B. currently cannot function as intended,' the complaint states. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store