Global Climate Cases Move International Human Rights Law Debate

Climate and human rights attorneys are closely watching a trio of international cases that advanced last week, moving the dial further toward holding nations accountable for their commitments to cutting emissions.

A pair of cases in Europe challenging government inaction on climate change now await decisions from the highest echelon of judges at the European Court of Human Rights, which means the court’s first-ever climate judgment could be expected this year.

A ruling in KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v. Switzerland, a case brought by a coalition of senior women who claim the Swiss government isn’t doing enough to mitigate climate impacts that ...