The "Last Judgement"

In "The Last Judgement", a group of citizens, organizations, researchers, social movements, and independent media are going to court against the Italian government. This case joins a broader movement of large citizen-led groups filing suit against governments for inaction on climate change.

Background
As global temperatures rise, Italy's temperature increase in the last 30 years has been higher than the average increase: +0.36°C every 10 years from 1981-2017. Italy has proposed plans to reduce its fossil fuel emissions in its National Energy Strategy and its National Energy and Climate Plan. However, many believe these targets aren't sufficient for tackling the climate crisis. The European Climate Foundation gave Italy a 2.6 ranking out of 45 for its emissions policies and pointed out that the country had no plan to reduce fossil fuel subsidies. The group of more than 50 claimants brings this case along with a general political campaign called The Last Judgement (Giudizio Universale), started in 2019. The plaintiffs are asking for Italy to recognize the impending risks of climate change and their impacts on the human rights to life and health. They also demand more aggressive emissions reduction policies and attention to the scientific community.

Relevant Law and Principles

 * Paris Agreement
 * National Energy Strategy
 * National Energy and Climate Plan
 * Human Rights Law (international and domestic)

Status
The case was filed in early 2021 and has not reached actual trial yet. On average, proceedings in Italy take about three years.

Takeaways
Although it is still early in the proceedings, this case will set an important precedent in Italy as the first real climate change case. As part of a bigger movement in other countries with similar cases, it will show how climate change can be addressed in domestic court systems as opposed to the European Union General Court.

Links

 * Analysis of the case
 * The Last Judgement official site
 * Last Judgement Press Release
 * National Energy and Climate Plan (in Italian)