Switzerland Urged to Step Up Action on Landmark European Climate Ruling
Switzerland has been told it needs to intensify its efforts to comply with a historic climate judgment, as the Council of Europe concluded the country has yet to fully meet the court’s requirements.
The decision follows a ruling issued last April by the European Court of Human Rights, which sided with a group of elderly Swiss women who accused their government of failing to adequately address climate change. The court determined that Switzerland had not fulfilled its obligations to protect citizens from climate-related harm or to meet emissions reduction targets.
Six months after the verdict, Swiss authorities requested that the case be closed, insisting they had already complied with the Strasbourg-based court’s directives. However, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers—responsible for overseeing the enforcement of such rulings—acknowledged some progress but stated that Switzerland had not proven full compliance.
Environmental advocates welcomed the latest development. Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti, co-president of the Senior Women for Climate Protection group and one of the claimants, said the government could no longer rely on its previous arguments and must strengthen its climate policies to address what she described as violations of fundamental rights.
The group, which includes around 2,000 members with an average age of 73, argued that older women are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, especially extreme heat, which is expected to become more frequent as global temperatures rise.
Following a three-day meeting, Swiss officials have now been asked to submit further details on specific actions being taken to reduce the most serious and immediate impacts of climate change. This includes measures to help citizens cope with heatwaves and ensuring public participation in shaping climate policies, particularly for vulnerable groups.
The Committee of Ministers, made up of foreign ministers from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states, is scheduled to revisit the issue in September 2025. By that time, Switzerland is expected to outline key elements of its climate strategy, including a clearer framework for managing national carbon emissions within a defined CO2 budget.
The ruling has sparked significant debate within Switzerland, with government officials arguing that the court exceeded its authority. Nonetheless, legal experts note that requests for additional information are a standard part of the compliance process at the European Court of Human Rights, indicating that the case remains ongoing.
More broadly, climate-related legal actions are becoming increasingly common worldwide. Advocacy groups, frustrated with what they view as insufficient political action, are turning to courts to push for stronger environmental protections.
In a related development, the International Court of Justice recently began hearing what is considered the largest climate case in its history, involving small island nations that argue rising sea levels threaten their survival.
Global temperatures have already risen by approximately 1.3°C compared to pre-industrial levels due to continued fossil fuel use. Between 1990 and 2020, average sea levels increased by about 10 centimeters, with some regions, particularly in the South Pacific, experiencing even greater rises.