The Impacts of Climate Change on Health as Key Evidence in Climate Litigation Cases

In recent years, the acceleration of climate change impacts has been driving an emerging stream of climate litigation cases worldwide.

Science – almost unwittingly – has played a key role in the course and outcome of those courses. The evidence regarding the contribution of anthropogenic activities to recent extreme climate events have been and continue to be highly useful in those lawsuits.

One specific case – and which has been a plot twist in terms of climate litigation – is the one brought by Klimaseniorinen Schewiz (Climate Seniors Switzerland) against the Swiss State. In April 2024, the European Court of Human Rights found for the group of older women calling into question the determination of the Swiss State to protect them against climate change, given their rather unambitious mitigation policies. The session will consider how climate change science can play a role in climate litigation, and mainly by the research into climate change and health.

This will all be presented based on the experience of the speaker as an independent expert in the case of Klimaseniorinen Schweiz. The main weaknesses will be discussed, along with how science is working to address them and so they can be a more efficient contribution in climate litigation.