Saul Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer, is suing RWE in Germany for their role in glacier melt affecting his hometown, Huaraz. He claims RWE should pay €17,000 for flood mitigation. The case, rooted in historical carbon emissions, raises significant questions about corporate responsibility for climate change impacts abroad.
A court hearing commenced at the Higher Regional Court of Hamm, Germany, regarding a lawsuit from Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against German energy company RWE. Lliuya claims that RWE, a significant carbon emitter, is responsible for the melting glaciers in the Andes, which threatens his hometown, Huaraz.
Lliuya, 44, emphasizes that RWE should contribute about €17,000 (US$18,400) for mitigating the risks associated with the melting glaciers and the overfilling Lake Palcacocha. He contends that the fossil fuels RWE uses contribute to flooding risks due to glacier melt, basing his claim on a 2014 study attributing 0.47% of historical global carbon emissions to RWE.
The lawsuit was originally filed in 2015 and faced delays, but a higher court allowed an appeal in 2017 and recent visits by German experts occurred in 2022. The ongoing hearings include a focus on the climate risk to Huaraz and the potential flooding from Lake Palcacocha, with a final hearing set for Wednesday.
The court will evaluate if Lliuya’s property faces substantial flooding risk based on expert evidence collected during the 2022 visit. If the threat is confirmed, subsequent hearings will explore RWE’s responsibility. Francesca Mascha Klein of Germanwatch argues for fair damage contributions from companies like RWE, while RWE contends that a ruling in favor of Lliuya could wrongly hold companies accountable for environmental damages abroad.
The legal proceedings initiated by Saul Luciano Lliuya against RWE highlight significant challenges in addressing climate accountability. While seeking financial contributions for climate impact mitigation, the case tests the boundaries of corporate responsibility under international environmental law. The outcome may set a precedent for future actions concerning environmental damages caused by major corporations.
Original Source: andina.pe
