A New Level of Accountability for Climate Change

In our article Big Change Starts Small, we asked you to imagine the effects of a global effort to replace one incandescent bulb with an LED. Now, imagine a global endeavour to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters where constituents hold governments accountable to their environmental commitments. A Dutch Court recently made history in the ongoing debate on climate change with a landmark case in which the Government was ordered to reduce greenhouse emissions by a minimum of 25% by 2020 when compared to 1990. Environmental rights group Urgenda brought the case on behalf of almost 900 Dutch citizens, arguing that it was the government’s legal obligation to protect its people against the dangers of climate change.

Greenhouse gases assist in warming the planet’s surface (known as the greenhouse effect), but since the start of the Industrial Revolution in 1750, we have produced a 40% increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, intensifying the natural greenhouse effect, and creating global warming. Scientists estimate that if this continues, the latter half of this century could see an inordinate increase in extreme weather, melting ice caps, and food and water shortages. As a low-lying country, approximately one quarter of the Netherland’s territory is at or below sea level making it more susceptible to flooding, which would worsen as sea levels rise. The court ruled that current policy indicates the Netherlands would only see a maximum greenhouse gas reduction of 17% by 2020, a number far lower than other nations. Currently, the 28 members of the European Union have said they will reduce emissions by 40% compared to levels in 1999 by 2030, and the United States is aiming to reduce emissions by 26-28% by 2025 and negotiators at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held at the end of this year, are hoping to reach a global deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to cap the global temperature increase at 2 ºC.

With everyone from Al Gore to NASA scientists weighing in on not only the effects of global warming, but also whether it actually exists, there is no doubt this case is a game changer on the political front. As Marjan Minnesma, Urgenda’s director, points out on their website, “… states can no longer afford inaction. States are meant to protect their citizens, and if politicians will not do this of their own accord, then the courts are there to help.” As the first case in Europe where citizens put their government to task over the potential effects of their inaction, and the first in the world to use human rights as a legal basis with regards to climate change, many environmentalists hope the win will set precedent in the international community. Similar cases are already being brought in Belgium and the Philippines, and preparations for a case have begun in Norway.

While coal and gas currently supply the Netherlands with the majority of their energy, as opposed to renewable sources such as wind power being used by other countries like Denmark and Germany, the Dutch government has agreed to close coal plants and increase their use of solar energy and windmills to dramatically reduce gas extractions. What remains unclear, however, is how the courts plan on enforce the ruling, and whether or not the government will appeal to a higher court.

There is no doubt the impact government accountability would have on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and at Mission, we look forward to seeing the effects this ruling has internationally, but in the meantime, it’s important to remember our own accountability and continually look for ways to contribute to Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, which, according to Environment Canada, aren’t likely to be achieved by 2020.