View source for Portugal: Young Climate Activists Get Strasbourg Court Boost

<br>LISBON, Portugal (AP) - The European Court of Human Rights is requiring a prompt response from 33 countries to an ambitious climate change case brought by six young Portuguese, a move that activists said gave heart to their cause.<br> <br>The court on Monday ordered the European countries to respond to the complaint and granted it priority status because of the "importance and urgency of the issues raised."<br> <br>The two young Portuguese adults and four children filed their claim last September at the Strasbourg, France-based court.<br><br>They want the court to hold the countries accountable for their allegedly inadequate efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.<br> <br>The group is supported by the Global Legal Action Network, a [http://dict.leo.org/?search=international%20nonprofit international nonprofit] organization that challenges human rights violations, and a team of five London lawyers.<br>The countries named in the complaint include the 27 member nations of the European Union plus the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.<br> <br>The court´s decision to demand  [https://kynghidongduong.vn/blog/le-hoi-hoa-tam-giac-mach-ha-giang-va-nhung-diem-check-in-voi-hoa-dep-nhat.html hoa tam giác mạch] a swift response from the defendant countries is "highly significant," said [http://www.recruitingblogs.com/main/search/search?q=Global%20Legal Global Legal] Action Network director  [https://kynghidongduong.vn/blog/le-hoi-hoa-tam-giac-mach-ha-giang-va-nhung-diem-check-in-voi-hoa-dep-nhat.html kynghidongduong.vn] Gearóid Ó Cuinn, because "only a tiny minority of cases" merit such treatment.<br> <br>The court will attempt to broker an amicable agreement in the case before it proceeds to litigation.<br> <br>If the activists win their case, the countries would be legally bound to cut emissions in line with the requirements of the 2015 Paris climate accord.<br><br>They would also have to address their role in overseas emissions, including by their multinational companies.<br> <br>___<br> <br>Follow all AP coverage of climate change issues at website