Saul Luciano Lliuya has initiated a lawsuit against the German energy giant RWE at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm, claiming the company’s carbon emissions have contributed to the perilous melting of Andean glaciers, threatening his hometown of Huaraz. He seeks €17,000 from RWE to help fund protective measures against potential lake flooding, based on a study attributing 0.47% of global emissions to RWE. The hearings will assess risk levels and the lawsuit’s implications for corporate climate accountability.
On March 18, a court hearing commenced at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm, Germany, concerning a lawsuit from Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against the German energy company RWE. Lliuya claims that RWE’s significant carbon emissions have contributed to the dangerous melting of glaciers in the Andes, threatening his hometown of Huaraz with potential flooding from the swollen Lake Palcacocha.
Lliuya, 44, asserts that RWE must share the financial burden of safeguarding Huaraz, particularly as the melting glaciers have resulted in dangerously elevated water levels in Lake Palcacocha. He has requested RWE to contribute €17,000 (about US$18,400) for protective measures against the possible overflow of the lake, which lies at an altitude of 4,500 meters.
His lawsuit references a 2014 study indicating that RWE has been responsible for 0.47% of global carbon emissions since the industrial era commenced. Though RWE has not operated in Peru, Lliuya argues that the company ought to pay a portion of the €3.5 million required to manage Lake Palcacocha’s water levels.
Lliuya expressed his desire for RWE to acknowledge its role in climate issues, stating, “What I am asking is that the company take responsibility for part of the costs of building a dam to reduce the risks.” Despite initial setbacks, including a 2015 dismissal of his case by a German court, Lliuya’s appeal was accepted in 2017, culminating in the recent hearings.
These hearings focus on assessing the climate risks posed to Huaraz and evaluating Lliuya’s claims. A final hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, where the court will determine the verifiable risk of flooding to Lliuya’s property, based on evidence collected by experts who visited the glaciers in 2022.
Francesca Mascha Klein from Germanwatch stated, “It is time for companies like RWE to contribute fairly to the costs of the damages they have helped cause.” However, RWE contests that a ruling favoring Lliuya could establish a problematic precedent regarding the attribution of environmental damages on an international scale. The company maintains that there is insufficient evidence connecting specific emissions to particular damages.
As the case progresses, experts emphasize its potential ramifications for future corporate responsibility regarding climate change, highlighting the considerable social and legal implications of the court’s eventual decision.
Saul Luciano Lliuya’s case against RWE underscores the intersection of climate justice and corporate accountability, illustrating how individuals affected by global emissions seek redress. The outcome of this lawsuit may set a significant precedent regarding the liability of companies for environmental harm caused by their operations, potentially influencing future legal frameworks concerning climate change responsibilities. As Lliuya pursues justice for himself and his community, the global conversation on corporate responsibility continues to unfold.
Original Source: andina.pe
