Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection v. Swiss Federal Council

In 2016, a group of senior women, filed suit against the Swiss Government, alleging that the government had failed to uphold obligations under the Swiss Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by not steering Switzerland onto an emissions reduction trajectory consistent with the goal of keeping global temperatures below 2ºC above pre-industrial levels.

Background
IPCC research shows that adult women are a vulnerable group that suffer an increased risk for premature death and other health problems due to extreme heat waves. For this reason, the lawsuit justified the need to safeguard the human rights of this most vulnerable sector, and that women have an interest worthy of protection. The plaintiffs also pointed out that the acts and omissions of the authorities have violated their constitutional rights and those consecrated in the European Convention on Human Rights. And therefore they demand that Switzerland complies with reducing its emissions, and that it generate internal actions to guarantee that it is complied with so that their rights are protected.

Relevant Law and Principles
The petitioners alleged the government had violated articles 10 (right to life), 73 (sustainability principle), and 74 (precautionary principle) of the Swiss Constitution and by articles 2 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

More information: https://klimaseniorinnen.ch/