The first level of judgment in the climate lawsuit filed in 2021 against the Italian State by 24 associations and 179 individuals ended with a ruling of inadmissibility.
In the sentence, issued by Judge AssuntaCanonaco, of the Second Section of the Civil Court of Rome, it is stated that the court hearing the case has no jurisdiction to express itself.
The legal team that followed the case, made up of lawyers and legal experts from the Legality for the Climate Network, announces that it will appeal.
The A Sud association (one of the promoters) made this known in a press release.
"With the case - explains the NGO - the judge was asked - considering the existence of a precise duty of the State in acting effectively to respect the commitments undertaken in the climate field and protect fundamental rights threatened by climate upheavals - to recognize that the insufficiency of the policies climate change in the field threatens the enjoyment of fundamental rights and, consequently, to force the State to revise the emission reduction objectives upwards".
"This is a missed opportunity for social and environmental issues in our country - explains Marica Di Pierri, spokesperson for A Sud and co-coordinator of the 'Last Judgment' campaign -, but the Rome court's desire not to express itself does not mean that there are the conditions for a condemnation of the State. According to the court, no Italian judge can protect fundamental rights threatened by the inefficiency of the State's climate policies, as has happened in many European countries. It is a rearguard choice".
Among the plaintiffs in the legal action is Luca Mercalli, climatologist and popularizer, president of the SMI, the Italian Meteorological Society: "It is plain for all to see that Italy is not doing enough to reduce emissions - he commented -. That politics it doesn't listen to science or to citizens. In many countries the courts have made the difference. It's a shame that in Italy this important opportunity and precious time has been lost."
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA