On Climate & Law: Suing Against the Energy Charter Treaty with Alex (YEE) and Julia

5 young people from European countries who have experienced extreme weather events caused by climate change are suing 12 states, alleging that their membership in the Energy Charter Treaty violates Articles 2 and 6 of the ECHR, regarding their right to life and right to privacy & family life respectively. 

 

In this episode we listen to youth claimants, Alex (YEE) and Julia, suing States against the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) tell us about this case.

 

ECT is quite nuanced; it sort of allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments when the latter take actions against their interests, such as announcing that they will phase out coal. This can lead to individual claims that amount to millions or even billions, as has already happened in the 12 states the young claimants are taking action against. The claimants argue that the barrier the ECT poses to mitigating climate change constitutes a violation of Articles 2 and 6, regarding the right to life & right to privacy, and family life respectively.

 

•Julia is a 17-year-old student from the Ahr River Valley in Germany. She is a climate justice activist and one of the plaintiffs in the legal action against the ECT. 

• Alex is a 22-year-old master's student in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He is originally from Athens, Greece and his home has been threatened by forest fires multiple times. This has inspired him to take action against the ECT with four more young activists.

 

Link to the case: https://www.exitect.org/the-case

 

On climate and law, a podcast to discuss the legal sphere to implement stronger policies in fighting climate change with a resulting collaboration between Rethinking Climate and Youth and Environment Europe to promote clarity on this topic.