Environment ministry snubs 'climate complaint'

The government has rejected a complaint by a group of women in Switzerland that accuses it of failing to combat climate change. The environment ministry said that it is not in a position to deal with the appeal handed in by 459 senior citizens last October, because it lacks the power under the Swiss political system, which includes direct democracy. “The climate policy is decided by parliament as well as by people’s initiatives and referendums but not by a court,” according to a ministerial statement published on Tuesday. The petitioners said older women in particular suffer from the effects of climate change, including long heat waves. They wanted the government to take additional measures to ensure that human rights and climate goals enshrined in the Swiss constitution are respected. They argue it is not enough to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020 compared with 1990 levels. Health risk A recent World Health Organisation report provides some support for the ...

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