Today marks the start of the long-awaited ‘climate case’ concerning the protection of the residents of the Dutch-Caribbean island Bonaire from ongoing climate change. In this case, Greenpeace Netherlands took the Dutch government to court in order to compel it to take more measures to combat climate change, thereby protecting the residents of the low-lying island Bonaire. Due to its location, Bonaire is increasingly threatened by rising sea levels.
The State of the Netherlands has a duty to protect its residents from the effects of climate change, but there are hardly any plans to keep Bonaire's residents safe within the context of the climate crisis. In the case, the demand is that the State mitigates the risks by reducing CO2 emissions more quickly. Furthermore, the State must develop plans together with the island's community, for the protection of Bonaire.
Greenpeace Netherlands is being assisted in this case by a team from law firms Kennedy Van der Laan (Michael Bacon) and Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers (Emiel Jurjens). Eight residents of Bonaire have also joined the case. Their claims were previously declared inadmissible by the district court of The Hague, but they will nevertheless speak at the hearing today.
The oral arguments can be followed live from 10:30 AM via the court's livestream.
Several media reports have already appeared in connection with these hearings (in Dutch):
- De Volkskrant, 'Om te voorkomen dat Bonaire verzuipt moet de rechter eraan te pas komen: ‘Het is niet niks om op te staan tegen je eigen overheid’
- Follow the Money, 'Greenpeace versus de Staat'
- NOS, 'Klimaatzaak Greenpeace over beschermen inwoners Bonaire van start'
Copyright: ROELTON_R_THODE
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