The climate case
Saúl Luciano Lliuya vs. RWE
Saúl Luciano Lliuya - an Andean farmer and mountain guide from Peru - and with him more than 50,000 inhabitants of the Andean city of Huaraz are acutely threatened by a flood wave due to the consequences of global warming. A glacial lake above the city has grown threateningly due to glacial melt. An ice avalanche could cause the lake to overflow and trigger a destructive tidal wave.
Saúl Luciano Lliuya decided to take initiative. On November 24, 2015, he filed a lawsuit against the energy company RWE in a German civil court. As one of the largest CO2 emitters in Europe, RWE is partly responsible for the climate crisis and the threat posed by the flood wave in Huaraz.
Saúl Luciano Lliuya is concerned about the urgently needed protection for himself, his family as well as the people in Huaraz, who have contributed little or nothing to the climate crisis.
The major polluters of climate change must finally face up to their responsibilities.
Saúl Luciano Lliuya
“A man who takes responsibility”
Luciano Lliuya’s lawsuit has had a signal effect like no other climate lawsuit, as it is the world’s only such case involving corporate liability for climate risks to make it to an evidentiary hearing, thus already making legal history.
Luciano Lliuya is not a lone fighter. He represents a growing number of people who, faced with inadequate political and corporate responses to the climate crisis, are increasingly turning to the world’s courts and demanding climate justice. Their lawsuits give a voice to those whom climate impacts particularly affect, even though these people have contributed little to not at all to the climate problem.
- Help the plaintiff and the people of Huaraz reduce the risk of destructive flooding.
- Hold polluters like RWE accountable and encourage them to adopt less-damaging business models.
- Bring about national and international political solutions to protect the people most affected by climate change.
In addition to the lawsuit, an important goal of Luciano Lliuya is to raise awareness about climate change. The dramatic extent of glacial melt is visible to everyone in his region, but some lack knowledge about the scientific connection. Adapting to climate change is a challenge for many people, especially in the agricultural sector. To address these issues, Luciano Lliuya and his fellow local activists founded an NGO called Wayintsik, meaning “our house” in Quechua, to support educational projects on climate change and adaptation in local communities.
News
Climate litigation as a significant risk for fossil fuel companies
New scientific study shows that climate lawsuits lead to a significant loss in value for companies with CO2-intensive business models. Researchers show: RWE share fell up to 6 percent due to Saúl Luciano Lliuya's lawsuit at Hamm Higher Regional Court.
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Saúl Luciano Lliuya against RWE: expert opinion expected in summer
One year after the court visit to Huaraz, the expert report will finally be available this summer. A hearing at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm is expected later this year.
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7 years of legal action - support Saúl!
Support Saúl Luciano Lliuya and be part of the global neighbourhood!
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Saúl Luciano Lliuya at COP27 - Recording available
Saúl Luciano Lliuya participated in the UN climate conference COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh. Find the events here.
read moreVoices on the case
Dr. Roda VerheyenA historical case
"This case is already historic from a legal perspective. No other comparable climate lawsuit in the world has reached such an advanced stage in the process. No other court in the world has recognised that large emitters can be fundamentally responsible for the consequences of climate change."
Prof. Dr. Christian HuggelA case with signal effect
"The case is rightly described internationally as a milestone in the climate debate in general and climate litigation in particular. In addition to being a signal effect to the fossil fuel industry, the case accelerates the complex and multidimensional debate about how we deal with the responsibility of climate change impacts, from local to global levels. And how we in science can best contribute to it."
Network
An alliance of organisations from Germany and Peru accompany and support the plaintiff, raise awareness about climate change and support those affected by the climate crisis in Peru.