Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya is suing German energy firm RWE over melting glaciers attributed to their greenhouse gas emissions. With the case commencing in Germany, Lliuya aims to hold RWE responsible for part of the flood defense costs in Huaraz. The lawsuit highlights the broader issue of corporate accountability for climate change impacts, particularly in areas facing severe risks from glacier melts.
In the high Andes of northern Peru, the Cordillera Blanca mountains pose an increasing danger from meltwater floods, exacerbated by the threat of climate change. This phenomenon forms the basis of a significant legal case that investigates corporate accountability regarding greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to climate change-related extreme weather events.
Saul Luciano Lliuya, a farmer and mountain guide from Huaraz, has filed a lawsuit against German energy company RWE. He claims that RWE’s emissions have been significant contributors to the rapid melting of Andean glaciers, leading to increased flood risks for his city. Lliuya seeks to compel RWE to finance flood defenses in accordance with their share of global emissions, estimated at 0.5%.
The lawsuit will initiate on Monday at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm in Germany, with Lliuya’s legal team arguing that RWE should bear the costs related to a $3.5 million flood defense project, which amounts to about €17,000. Lliuya emphasized the importance of setting a precedent for corporate accountability related to climate-induced damages.
RWE has dismissed the claims, arguing that attributing global warming responsibility to a single emitter is legally and socially untenable. They argue that the lawsuit could create a precedent burdening every greenhouse gas emitter in Germany with global climate responsibilities, a stance they reject both legally and sociopolitically.
In the Huaraz region, evidence of glacier melt is stark. Lake Palcacocha, fed by glacial runoff, expanded 34 times between 1974 and 2016, endangering the local population of over 65,000. Residents express anxiety over the possibility of overflow and landslides during the rainy season, especially when family gatherings occur near the Quilcay river, which poses overflow risks.
The government has implemented measures to monitor Lake Palcacocha, including road closures during landslides and installing drainage systems to mitigate flood risks, although officials suggest that more infrastructure may be necessary. Peru harbors approximately 70% of the world’s tropical glaciers, all at heightened risk from ongoing climate change.
Recent data indicates that Peru has lost over half its glaciers in 60 years due to climate change. Huaraz’s Ancash region is particularly vulnerable, with multiple lagoons posing flooding risks. The Cordillera Blanca’s rapid retreat threatens local ecosystems and water supplies, with Lliuya highlighting the visible decline of glaciers year after year.
Despite the potential for losing the case, Lliuya’s lawyer, Roda Verheyen, remains optimistic about the implications of the proceedings. She believes that whatever the outcome, the case could provide important insights for future legal actions regarding corporate responsibility in climate change.
This landmark lawsuit by Saul Luciano Lliuya against RWE illustrates the pressing issues of corporate accountability regarding climate change. As glaciers melt and flood risks escalate due to greenhouse gas emissions, Lliuya aims to establish a legal precedent for similar cases globally. While RWE contests the claims, the action highlights the urgent need for measures to address and mitigate climate-related challenges in vulnerable regions like Huaraz.
Original Source: sightmagazine.com.au
