Peruvian Farmer Fights RWE in Landmark Climate Lawsuit

Saul Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer, is suing RWE, a German energy firm, for climate change damages impacting his hometown of Huaraz. Lliuya seeks financial assistance for flood defenses against glacier melting, asserting RWE’s responsibility as a leading carbon emitter. Despite previous setbacks, the case is advancing in German courts, potentially setting a precedent for climate justice.

Saul Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer, is currently engaged in a lawsuit against German energy company RWE concerning climate change damages. He asserts that RWE, being one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide globally, should contribute to the financial protection of his hometown Huaraz from a dangerous glacier lake. Lliuya will travel to Germany for hearings scheduled from March 17 to 19 in the city of Hamm, where he expressed confidence in the legal proceedings.

Lliuya is seeking approximately 17,000 euros (around $18,400) from RWE to help fund the construction of flood defenses, including a dike, to safeguard his community. His legal claim references a 2013 climate study that attributes about 0.5 percent of global emissions to RWE since the onset of industrialization. Although his initial lawsuit in 2015 was dismissed by an Essen court, a higher court later agreed to consider his appeal.

In 2022, following the COVID-19 pandemic, German experts assessed the situation at Lake Palcacocha and its glaciers in Huaraz. The upcoming hearings will determine whether evidence gathered can be admitted into the case. This lawsuit has garnered support from environmental NGO Germanwatch, with its lawyer, Andrea Tang, emphasizing its potential to set a substantial precedent for climate justice worldwide.

RWE maintains that it has complied with all government regulations regarding greenhouse gas emissions and is on track to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2040. The company has expressed confusion over why it is facing legal action in this instance, given its operations do not extend to Peru.

Saul Luciano Lliuya’s case against RWE represents a pivotal moment in climate justice, emphasizing the accountability of major emitters. The decision of the German courts to consider the admissibility of evidence in this lawsuit could pave the way for similar actions globally. Lliuya’s confidence in the legal system reflects the increasing intersection of environmental accountability and legal frameworks designed to address climate change impacts.

Original Source: www.mdjonline.com