Joint press release of the Senior Women for Climate Protection Switzerland andGreenpeace Switzerland
Zurich/Strasbourg, 9 April 2024

Victory for Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection: Climate protection
is a human right
The association of the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection, whose members
took action against Switzerland for violating their human rights by failing to set
sufficient climate targets have won a historic victory at the European Court of HumanRights (ECtHR). The Grand Chamber of the Court ruled this morning in the case "Verein
KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland" (application no. 53600/20) that
Switzerland is violating the human rights of the older women because the state is nottaking the necessary steps to combat global warming. Specifically, the court found a
violation of Article 8 (right to private and family life). The Court also found that theassociation, which currently represents over 2,500 women aged 64 and over, has victim
status. This is a huge victory not only for all the older women, but for access to justiceacross Europe. On the other hand, it ruled that the action brought by the individual
applicants was inadmissible. Switzerland must now adjust its current climate targets
based on science. The Court found that Switzerland had failed to comply with its duties
under the Convention concerning climate change.
The Swiss authorities had not acted in time and in an appropriate way to implement
measures to mitigate the effects of climate change in this case. Furthermore,
Switzerland has not achieved its own inadequate targets for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.

For the first time a transnational court specialising in human rights is directly upholding ahuman rights-based right to climate protection.
With this decision, the Court confirms that the increasingly frequent and intense heat waves
caused by climate change pose a real and serious threat to the health and the private andfamily life of the senior women and that there is a rights-based link between these negative
effects on senior women and Switzerland’s measures for climate protection.

The Court makes it clear that Switzerland has a duty to protect senior women from thenegative consequences of global warming to their health. And it made clear that Switzerland
has violated this obligation through its inadequate climate policy.
Switzerland must therefore subject its current climate targets to improvements in order tosufficiently protect human rights. In its judgement, the ECtHR lays out specific requirementsthat must be met in order to remedy the identified gap in climate protection.
The European Court of Human Rights has also ruled that Switzerland has violated the right of
the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection to access to a court. The Swiss authorities
and courts should have carried out a substantive examination of the human rights violations
alleged by the senior citizens. In the context of the climate crisis, there is also a duty to review
human rights violations that have been committed.
This ruling has far-reaching implications. It sets a precedent for all 46 states of the Council ofEurope. Across Europe, all Council of Europe states could be asked by their citizens to review
and, if necessary, strengthen their climate policy on the basis of the principles developed by
the ECtHR to safeguard human rights. This would benefit everyone – young and old. Thisruling sends out a global signal.
"This judgement is not just a victory for the Senior Women for Climate Protection. Our victory
is a victory for all generations. Especially for the Portuguese youth, whose generation will bebeneficiaries of a long-term improved climate. The presence of the young people in thecourtroom showed the judges the face of human rights for the future," says Rosmarie WydlerWälti, Co-President of the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection.
"This ruling is a landmark in the struggle for a liveable climate for everyone. And the ruling is asatisfaction. We have been fighting for climate justice for nine years with the support ofGreenpeace. After the Swiss courts refused to hear us, the ECHR has now confirmed thatclimate protection is a human right," says Anne Mahrer, Co-President of the Swiss Senior
Women for Climate Protection.
"I am absolutely overwhelmed and extremely proud that after 9 years of intensive work, thesenior women have finally got their due. This is an indescribable moment," says Cordelia Bähr,
lead lawyer for the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection. "The significance of thisdecision cannot be overestimated. It will be of great importance for further climate lawsuitsagainst states and companies worldwide and increase their chances of success. The judgmentshows citizens, judges and governments across Europe what is needed in terms of climate
protection in order to respect human rights."
The senior women are supported by Greenpeace in their fight for climate justice.
"This ruling for the protection of human rights and the wellbeing of us all is a wake-up call for
the Federal Council and Parliament. It is now important to quickly strengthen climate
protection in Switzerland. The Court's decision is binding for the Federal Council andParliament. Human rights are the basis of every democracy - we expect politicians of all
colours to abide by the ruling," says Georg Klingler, initiator and project coordinator atGreenpeace Switzerland.
"This doesn't stop in Strasbourg. The KlimaSeniorinnen’s stories are also on the agenda for
the International Court of Justice, where hearings on all governments’ climate justiceobligations - including Switzerland’s - will be held early next year", says Louise Fournier, legal
counsel at Greenpeace International, who supported the legal team of the Swiss Senior
Women for Climate Protection.

More Information
Press release of the ECtHR
Pictures and videos of the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection
FAQMedia kitContacts
Press office Greenpeace Switzerland, +41 44 447 41 11, pressestelle.ch@greenpeace.org
Cordelia Bähr, Lawyer of Senior Women for Climate Protection
Switzerland: baehr@ettwein.ch, +41 78 801 70 34
Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti, co-president of Senior Women for Climate Protection
Switzerland: rosmariewydler@sunrise.ch, +41 61 302 96 35 (for interviews in German)
Anne Mahrer, co-president of Senior Women for Climate Protection
Switzerland: anne.mahrer@bluewin.ch, +41 79 249 72 17 (for interviews in French)
Elisabeth Stern, member of the board of Senior Women for Climate Protection
Switzerland: elisabeth.stern@bluewin.ch, +41 79 351 22 00
Pia Hollenstein, member of the board of Senior Women for Climate Protection
Switzerland: mail@piahollenstein.ch, +41 79 740 04 50
Norma Bargetzi, member of the board of Senior Women for Climate Protection
Switzerland: normaba@bluewin.ch, +41 79 352 98 89 (for interviews in Italian)Georg Klingler, Project Coordinator and Climate Campaigner Greenpeace
Switzerland: georg.klingler@greenpeace.org, +41 79 785 07 38