DThe environmental protection association Greenpeace and the German Environmental Association hope to sue the German car manufacturer and energy supplier Wintershall for inadequate climate protection measures.The managing director of the association wants to bring a civil lawsuit against them BMWThese organizations said on Friday that Daimler, Volkswagen and Wintershall filed suits in the District Court.
If necessary, complaints can be filed against violations of property, health and civil liberties. These claims are derived from the Federal Constitutional Court’s judgment on climate protection, which has forced the federal government to impose stricter requirements. These companies have a deadline of several weeks to respond to the demands of climate protectionists and avoid litigation through reliable ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Specifically, referring to the requirements of the Paris climate protection agreement, the associations called for the phase out of internal combustion engines by 2030, because the agreement resulted in not exceeding the remaining CO2 emission budget. However, in order to implement the climate goals, the European Commission has proposed 2035 as the deadline for registering only emission-free new vehicles. Wintershal A commitment should be made not to develop any new oil and gas fields by 2026 at the latest-suppliers are committed to achieving carbon dioxide neutrality by 2030.
Environmentalists also see a good opportunity to take legal action, because the Netherlands has made a judgment against Shell Oil Company, which is obliged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019. The company is appealing the ruling.
Car companies are fighting back
As a first step, the plaintiff sent a letter of compensation to the company. It said the company’s current and planned measures contradict Paris’ climate targets and are therefore illegal. “Despite the increase in extreme weather events and contrary to scientific findings, the German automobile industry continues to sell millions of climate-damaging diesel and gasoline engines worldwide,” these associations blamed the automakers. As a result, the carbon dioxide emissions of Germany’s most important industry in 2019 exceeded the emissions of the entire country.
“Civil law can and must prevent companies from disrupting our livelihoods and depriving our children and grandchildren of the right to a safe future,” said Roda Verheyen, the lawyer in the case. GreenpeaceJürgen Resch, managing director of DUH, stated that this should end the “predatory lobbying” of the automotive industry against climate protection.
BMW and Daimler mentioned their plans to convert the range to electric vehicles and reduce carbon dioxide emissions throughout the production process. BMW once again pledged to help limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. “The BMW Group is a pioneer in the automotive industry’s response to climate change.”
Daimler stated that the company believes that the ban has no basis and will defend itself through all legal means. “We are clearly committed to achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, thereby achieving the decarbonization of the automotive industry.” Volkswagen and Wintershall did not initially comment.
