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15 June 2021

Poland sees first climate lawsuit against government, filed by citizens

Following the recent moves by Exxon Mobil shareholders to push the company towards climate responsibility finds a continuation in reports from Poland of a citizen-mounted lawsuit against the Polish government which alleges they have failed to protect citizens from climate change. The criticism against the Polish government’s failure to act sufficiently fast reflects a growing urgency among younger generations that sees young activists taking the public op inion swaying actions of activists like Great Thunberg in Sweden and Mari Copeny and her water-advocacy in Flint, Michigan in the USA to the next level.
This movement sets in stark contrast the government’s courting of coal-industry investments in the country with the populations future, with the litigants calling for the government to commit to a 61% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030. It remains to be seen whether such actions will be mirrored elsewhere to push governments into action.

Read more about the lawsuit in Reuter’s reporting.