{"id":18159,"date":"2021-04-26T14:41:47","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T22:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/notre-affaire-a-tous-and-others-v-france-no-1904967-1904968-1904972-1904976-4-1-paris-administrative-court-3-february-2021\/"},"modified":"2025-01-16T10:40:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T18:40:53","slug":"fr_notreaffairsatous_3feb2021","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/resource\/fr_notreaffairsatous_3feb2021","title":{"rendered":"Notre Affaire \u00e0 Tous y otros c. Francia, n.\u00ba 1904967, 1904968, 1904972, 1904976\/4-1, Tribunal Administrativo de Par\u00eds (3 de febrero de 2021)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Notre Affaire \u00e0 Tous and Others v. France, No. 1904967, 1904968, 1904972, 1904976\/4-1, Paris Administrative Court (3 February 2021)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several organizations petitioned the Paris Administrative Court seeking orders requiring the government to take necessary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperature increase under 1.5 degrees Celsius; reduce emissions to meet France\u2019s own objectives as declared under several laws; adapt to the changing climate, and protect citizens\u2019 lives and health from the risks of climate change. Notre Affaire \u00e0 Tous and Others v. France, No. 1904967, 1904968, 1904972, 1904976\/4-1, Paris Administrative Court (3 February 2021) at sections I-IV. The organizations also requested symbolic monetary compensation for moral damage and ecological damage. Id.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In reviewing the claims related to ecological damage, the Court explained that based on the information before it, including the latest IPCC report, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of global warming, and that global warming has caused ecological damage. Id. at para. 16. The Court explained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The constant increase of the Earth\u2019s average global temperature, which today has reached 1\u00b0C [1.8\u00b0F] compared to pre-industrial times, is caused primarily by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This increase, which is responsible for a change in the atmosphere and its ecological functions, has, notably, already caused accelerated melting of continental glaciers and permafrost as well as oceanic warming, resulting in sea level rise, which is [also] accelerating. This last phenomenon is combined with the increase, in frequency and severity, of extreme climate events, ocean acidification, and ecosystem damage, which all have grave and irreversible consequences on human activities such as fisheries and agriculture, as well as on water resources, <\/i>which, combined, lead to an increasing risk of food insecurity, as well as degradation of water resources, human health, and economic growth. The reports also show that global warming will reach 1.5\u00b0C [2.7\u00b0F] between 2030 and 2052 if anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow at the current rate, and that even if emissions decrease, due to the persistence of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, these emissions will persist for many centuries, and [furthermore] the overall global warming of 2\u00b0C [3.6\u00b0F] instead of 1.5\u00b0C would gravely increase these different phenomena and their consequences. The studies also show that each additional half-degree [Celsius] of global warming will significantly increase associated risks, particularly for the most vulnerable ecosystems and populations, and that to limit warming to 1.5\u00b0C would require a 45% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as compared to 2010 emission levels, and the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050.<\/em><\/p>\nId., unofficial translation.[1]<\/span><\/span><\/a>  <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

After reviewing France\u2019s obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement and related European Union decisions, as well as provisions of France\u2019s Charte de l\u2019environnement [Environmental Charter], the Court found that France chose to commit to these international obligations. Id. at paras. 18-21. However, the Court subsequently dismisses the claims that the government\u2019s actions to improve energy efficiency or increase renewable energy have been insufficient to meet these general obligations. Id. at paras. 23-28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Court found the State failed to meet specific targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that it set for itself by law under an EU regulation. Id. at paras. 29-30. The Court recognized that the possibility that the State might meet future targets including becoming carbon neutral by 2050 did not exonerate it from failing to achieve an earlier target. Id. at paras. 29-31. The Court explained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The possibility that the State could meet its objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2030 as compared to 1990 emission levels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 does not exonerate the State of liability, since in failing to meet the targets it has fixed, additional greenhouse gas emissions are created, which accumulate with preceding emissions and produce effects throughout the approximately 100-year lifetime of these gases in the atmosphere, thus aggravating the ecological damage in question.<\/em><\/p>\nId. at para. 31, unofficial translation. [2]<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Court found that the State\u2019s failure to meet its climate change commitments undermined the work of the organizations that filed the petition and awarded the requested symbolic payment of one Euro to each petitioner as compensation for moral damages. Id. at para. 42-45, Article 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Court refused the petitioners\u2019 request for compensation for ecological damage, for two reasons. First, the civil code provisions governing ecological damage only allow for monetary compensation when reparation is impossible or insufficient, and the petitioners did not demonstrate the government could not rectify the ecological damage in question. Id. at paras. 35-37.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Court deferred its decision on whether to issue injunctive relief until all parties had more information from the government. Id. at para. 39, Article 4. The Court ordered two agencies to circulate their reports within two months. Id.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A follow-up decision from the court is anticipated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[1]<\/span><\/span><\/a> Original text: \u201c[L]\u2019augmentation constante de la temp\u00e9rature globale moyenne de la Terre, qui a atteint aujourd\u2019hui 1\u00b0C par rapport \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9poque pr\u00e9industrielle, est due principalement aux \u00e9missions de gaz \u00e0 effet de serre d\u2019origine anthropique. Cette augmentation, responsable d\u2019une modification de l\u2019atmosph\u00e8re et de ses fonctions \u00e9cologiques, a d\u00e9j\u00e0 provoqu\u00e9 notamment l\u2019acc\u00e9l\u00e9ration de la fonte des glaces continentales et du perg\u00e9lisol et le r\u00e9chauffement des oc\u00e9ans, qui ont pour cons\u00e9quence l\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9vation du niveau de la mer, qui est en voie d\u2019acc\u00e9l\u00e9ration. Ce dernier ph\u00e9nom\u00e8ne se combine avec l\u2019augmentation, en fr\u00e9quence et en gravit\u00e9, des ph\u00e9nom\u00e8nes climatiques extr\u00eames, l\u2019acidification des oc\u00e9ans et l\u2019atteinte des \u00e9cosyst\u00e8mes, qui ont des cons\u00e9quences graves et irr\u00e9versibles sur les activit\u00e9s humaines telles que la p\u00eache et les cultures, ainsi que sur les ressources en eau, et entra\u00eenent des risques croissants d\u2019ins\u00e9curit\u00e9 alimentaire et de d\u00e9gradation des ressources en eau, de la sant\u00e9 humaine et de la croissance \u00e9conomique. Il r\u00e9sulte \u00e9galement de ces rapports que ce r\u00e9chauffement global atteindra 1,5\u00b0C entre 2030 et 2052 si les \u00e9missions anthropiques de gaz \u00e0 effet de serre continuent d\u2019augmenter au rythme actuel et qu\u2019il persistera pendant plusieurs si\u00e8cles, m\u00eame si ces \u00e9missions diminuent, en raison de la persistance dans l\u2019atmosph\u00e8re des gaz \u00e0 effet de serre, et qu\u2019un r\u00e9chauffement de 2\u00b0C plut\u00f4t qu\u20191,5\u00b0C augmenterait gravement ces diff\u00e9rents ph\u00e9nom\u00e8nes et leurs cons\u00e9quences. Il r\u00e9sulte encore de ces travaux que chaque demi-degr\u00e9 de r\u00e9chauffement global suppl\u00e9mentaire renforce tr\u00e8s significativement les risques associ\u00e9s, en particulier pour les \u00e9cosyst\u00e8mes et les populations les plus vuln\u00e9rables, et qu\u2019une limitation de ce r\u00e9chauffement \u00e0 1,5\u00b0C n\u00e9cessite de r\u00e9duire, d\u2019ici \u00e0 2030, les \u00e9missions de gaz \u00e0 effet de serre de 45 % par rapport \u00e0 2010 et d\u2019atteindre la neutralit\u00e9 carbone au plus tard en 2050.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> Original text: <\/span>\u201c[L]a circonstance que l\u2019\u00c9tat pourrait atteindre les objectifs de r\u00e9duction des \u00e9missions de gaz \u00e0 effet de serre de 40 % en 2030 par rapport \u00e0 leur niveau de 1990 et de neutralit\u00e9 carbone \u00e0 l\u2019horizon 2050 n\u2019est pas de nature \u00e0 l\u2019exon\u00e9rer de sa responsabilit\u00e9 d\u00e8s lors que le non-respect de la trajectoire qu\u2019il s\u2019est fix\u00e9e pour atteindre ces objectifs engendre des \u00e9missions suppl\u00e9mentaires de gaz \u00e0 effet de serre, qui se cumuleront avec les pr\u00e9c\u00e9dentes et produiront des effets pendant toute la dur\u00e9e de vie de ces gaz dans l\u2019atmosph\u00e8re, soit environ 100 ans, aggravant ainsi le pr\u00e9judice \u00e9cologique invoqu\u00e9.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Notre Affaire \u00e0 Tous and Others v. France, No. 1904967, 1904968, 1904972, 1904976\/4-1, Paris Administrative Court (3 February 2021) Several organizations petitioned the Paris Administrative Court seeking orders requiring the government to take necessary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperature increase under 1.5 degrees Celsius; reduce emissions to meet France\u2019s own […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","resource-topic":[43,153,109],"resource-type":[528],"resource-category":[30097],"content-for-websites":[30101],"region":[755,544],"class_list":["post-18159","resource","type-resource","status-publish","hentry","resource-topic-climate-change","resource-topic-greenhouse-gases","resource-topic-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change","resource-type-cases","resource-category-legal","content-for-websites-climate","region-france","region-western-europe"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource\/18159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/resource"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-topic?post=18159"},{"taxonomy":"resource-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-type?post=18159"},{"taxonomy":"resource-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-category?post=18159"},{"taxonomy":"content-for-websites","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-for-websites?post=18159"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/elaw.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=18159"}],"curies":[{"name":"gracias","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}