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Climate crisis: Peruvian smallholder sues RWE

Hamm. Saúl Luciano Lliuya, small farmer and mountain guide from the Peruvian part of the Andes, has sued the electricity company RWE for damages. Reason: RWE is contributing to global warming with its coal-fired power plants. This is the reason why the Palcaraju glacier is melting over its hometown of Huaraz. The water threatens the city. Therefore, the group should pay the residents flood protection measures. The process is running before the higher regional court in Hamm. 

Group should pay for climate damage that it has caused

Now the non-governmental organization reports German Watch from a study that supports Lliuya's lawsuit: Germanwatch quoted from a report in the journal Nature Geosciences. In it, scientists from the universities of Oxford and Washington report on their research on the warming of the region and on climate change: They are more than 99% certain that the retreat of the glacier cannot be explained by natural changes alone. And: “at least 85%” of the rising temperatures in the region are due to human activities. 

According to the assessment of the lawsuit, RWE contributes 0,5% to the man-made climate crisis. The group has so far “done everything” to delay the process, quoted Germanwatch plaintiff lawyer Dr. Roda Verheyen (Hamburg). The German has the costs for the process Sustainability Foundation accepted. She asks for it Donate

If RWE loses, investment decisions will change

The procedure is not only important for the threatened people in the Peruvian town of Huaraz. For the first time, a German civil court is negotiating a company because of the climate damage it caused. If RWE is convicted here, future investment decisions will change. Companies will carefully consider whether to invest in projects that are harmful to the environment and the climate if they have to pay for consequential damage. You can complain about Saúl Luciano Lliuya's complaint here support.

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Written by Robert B Fishman

Freelance author, journalist, reporter (radio and print media), photographer, workshop trainer, moderator and tour guide

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