The Star Malaysia

NGOs sue France over lack of climate change efforts

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PARIS: A group of NGOs, including Greenpeace and Oxfam, have launched a lawsuit against the French state accusing it of taking insufficie­nt action to tackle climate change.

It comes after similar action was launched by farmers in Germany, and the Dutch government lost a landmark case brought by an environmen­tal rights group on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

“The failure of the state in the fight against climate change reflects a lack of respect in its obligation to protect the environmen­t and the health and security of the population,” the NGOs said in a joint statement on Monday.

The French government will have two months to respond to the legal action.

“We are seeking redress for damages and asking the state to act straight away at all levels,” Greenpeace campaigner Laura Monnier said.

The NGOs allege that France, where greenhouse gas emissions rose again in 2015, has not met its short-term climate objectives.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has attempted to paint himself as a leader in fighting climate change since his election last year, recently backed down on anti-pollution fuel tax hikes in the face of country-wide “yellow vest” protests.

In October, the Dutch government lost an appeal against a ruling which ordered it to slash greenhouse gases by at least 25% by 2020.

Environmen­tal rights group Urgenda fought the successful case on behalf of some 900 Dutch citizens who accused the Netherland­s of doing too little to prevent dangerous climate change.

In Germany, dismayed farmers who have suffered damage to their crops and dairy farms as a result of record drought have also filed a lawsuit, with the aid of Greenpeace, against Berlin to force action. — AFP

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