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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentEuropean court rules human rights violated by climate inactionPublished9 minutes agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsClimateImage source, ReutersBy Georgina RannardBBC climate reporterA group of older Swiss women have won the first ever climate case victory in the European Court of Human Rights.The women, mostly in their 70s, said that their age and gender made them particularly vulnerable to the effects of heatwaves linked to climate change.The court said Switzerland’s efforts to meet its emission reduction targets had been woefully inadequate.It is the first time the powerful court has ruled on global warming.Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg joined activists celebrating at the court in Strasbourg on Tuesday. “We still can’t really believe it. We keep asking our lawyers, ‘is that right?’ Rosemarie Wydler-Walti, one of the leaders of the Swiss women, told Reuters news agency. “And they tell us it’s the most you could have had. The biggest victory possible.” “This is only the beginning of climate litigation,” said Ms Thunberg. “This means that we have to fight even more, since this is only the beginning. Because in a climate emergency, everything is at stake.”The ruling is binding and can trickle down to influence the law in 46 countries in Europe including the UK.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Rosmarie Wyder-Walti and Anne Mahrer from Senior Women for Climate ProtectionThe Court ruled that Switzerland had “failed to comply with its duties under the Convention concerning climate change” and that it had violated the right to respect for private and family life. It also found that “there had been critical gaps” in the country’s policies to tackle climate change including failing to quantify reductions in greenhouse gases – those gases that warm Earth’s atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas.The Swiss women, called KlimaSeniorinnen or Senior Women for Climate Protection, argued that they cannot leave their homes and suffer health attacks during heatwaves in Switzerland.On Tuesday data showed that last month was the world’s warmest March on record, meaning the temperature records have broken ten months in a row.More than 2,000 women are in the KlimaSeniorinnen group. They launched the case nine years ago, calling for better protection of women’s health in relation to climate change.Swiss President Viola Amherd told a news conference that she needed to read the judgement in detail before commenting, according to Reuters news agency. She said: “Sustainability is very important to Switzerland, biodiversity is very important to Switzerland, the net zero target is very important to Switzerland.”The court dismissed two other cases brought by six Portuguese young people and a former French mayor. Both argued that European governments had failed to tackle climate change quickly enough, violating their rights.Swiss glaciers get 10% smaller in two yearsWhy is the world getting warmer?Record hot March sparks ‘uncharted territory’ fearMember of the KlimaSeniorinnen Elisabeth Stern, 76, told BBC News that she has seen how the climate in Switzerland has changed since she was a child growing up on a farm.’Not made to sit in a rocking chair and knit’Asked about her commitment to the case, she said: “Some of us are just made that way. We are not made to sit in a rocking chair and knit.””We know statistically that in 10 years we will be gone. So whatever we do now, we are not doing for ourselves, but for the sake of our children and our children’s children,” she added.Youth activists around the world had hoped that the six Portuguese young people would also win their case against 32 European governments.The youth, aged from 12-24, had argued that increasingly extreme heatwaves and wildfires left them unable to go outside to play, to go to school, and that they suffered from climate anxiety.But the court said the case needed to be decided in Portugal first.Sofia Oliveira, 19, told BBC News that she was disappointed but that the Swiss women’s win ‘is a win for us too and a win for everyone’.”A third case by a former French mayor claimed that inaction by the French government risked his town being submerged in the North Sea. It was dismissed because he no longer lived in France and claimants must prove that they are direct victims of human rights violations.Decisions made in the European Court of Human Rights influence law across its 46 member states.Estelle Dehon KC, a barrister at Cornerstone Barristers in the UK, said “the judgement deals with difficult issues that also vex the UK courts in a way that may be persuasive.””It comprehensively dismisses the argument that courts cannot rule on climate legal obligations because climate change is a global phenomenon or because action by one state is just a ‘drop in the ocean’,” she told BBC News.Governments globally have signed up to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.But scientists and activists say that progress is too slow and the world is not on track to meet the crucial target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C. Switzerland’s largest party, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, condemned the ruling, calling it a scandal and threatening to leave the Council of Europe.That is unlikely to happen because they hold just two seats of seven in government.The Socialist Party welcomed the court’s decision and said the government should implement it as soon as possible, according to Swiss broadcaster RTS.Politicians in Switzerland responded to the rulinghttps://x.com/UDCch/status/1777707449501310985Related TopicsEuropeHuman rightsEuropean Court of Human RightsClimateSwitzerlandComments can not be loadedTo load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browserView commentsTop StoriesLive. 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[ad_1] “We are not made to sit in a rocking chair and knit,” said one of the older Swiss women who won.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityScience & EnvironmentMore climate records fall in world’s warmest FebruaryPublished3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsClimateImage source, Getty ImagesBy Mark PoyntingClimate and environment researcher, BBC NewsLast month was the world’s warmest February in modern times, the EU’s climate service says, extending the run of monthly records to nine in a row.Each month since June 2023 has seen new temperature highs for the time of year.The world’s sea surface is at its hottest on record, while Antarctic sea-ice has again reached extreme lows.Temperatures are still being boosted by the Pacific’s El Niño weather event, but human-caused climate change is by far the main driver of the warmth.”Heat-trapping greenhouse gases are unequivocally the main culprit,” stresses Prof Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization.Carbon dioxide concentrations are at their highest level for at least two million years, according to the UN’s climate body, and increased by near-record levels again over the past year.Those warming gases helped make February 2024 about 1.77C warmer than “pre-industrial” times – before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels – according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. This breaks the previous record, from 2016, by around 0.12C.These temperatures saw particularly severe heat afflict western Australia, southeast Asia, southern Africa and South America. The 12-month average now sits at 1.56C above pre-industrial levels – after the first year-long breach of 1.5C warming was confirmed last month.Back in 2015 in Paris, nearly 200 countries agreed to try to keep the rise in warming under 1.5C, to help avoid some of the worst climate impacts. That threshold in the Paris agreement is generally accepted to mean a 20-year average – so it hasn’t yet been broken – but the relentless string of records illustrates how close the world is getting to doing so.A really simple guide to climate changeWhat is the Paris agreement and why does 1.5C matter?Oceans and sea-ice under strainRecent records haven’t just been limited to air temperatures. Countless climate metrics are far beyond levels seen in modern times.One of the most notable is sea surface temperatures. As the graph below shows, the margin of records in recent months has been particularly striking.Researchers are keen to stress that the scale and extent of the oceanic heat is not simply a consequence of the natural weather event known as El Niño, which was declared in June 2023. “Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific clearly reflect El Niño. But sea surface temperatures in other parts of the globe have been persistently and unusually high for the past 10 months,” explains Prof Saulo.”This is worrying and cannot be explained by El Niño alone.”What are El Niño and La Niña, and how do they change the weather?Ocean warming has prompted concerns about the mass bleaching of coral reefs. It also raises global sea-levels and can help to fuel higher intensity hurricanes. Unusually warm waters may also have been a factor in another exceptional month for Antarctic sea-ice. The three lowest minimum extents in the satellite era have now occurred in the last three years.Scientists are struggling to explain exactly what’s going on. Until 2017, Antarctic sea-ice had defied predictions that it would shrink, unlike in the Arctic, where the downward trend has been much clearer. The apparent recent shift – occurring at the same time as other records are being broken around the planet – adds to concerns that Antarctic sea-ice may finally be waking up to climate change. “I don’t think you can say it’s coincidental,” Prof Martin Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter, told BBC News. “It’s absolutely frightening. The records are just off [the] scale.” Is the world warming faster than expected?Antarctic sea-ice at ‘mind-blowing’ lowAn end to El Niño in sightThere are signs that the run of global temperature records may finally come to an end in the months ahead.The 2023-24 El Niño has been one of the five strongest such events on record, the World Meteorological Organization announced on Tuesday, but it is gradually weakening. El Niño will continue to have an effect on temperatures and weather patterns for the next few months. “We would expect [El Niño] to continue to keep 2024 temperatures elevated at least through the first half of the year,” Dr Colin Morice, a senior scientist at the UK’s Met Office Hadley Centre, told BBC News.However, a switch to neutral conditions in the Pacific is likely between April and June, according to US science body NOAA, and a further switch to the cool phase known as La Niña could then happen between June and August.This would likely put a temporary lid on global air temperatures, with a cooler sea surface in the East Pacific allowing less heat to escape and warm the air. But as long as human activities keep releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases, temperatures will continue rising in the long-term, ultimately leading to more records and extreme weather.”We know what to do – stop burning fossil fuels and replace them with more sustainable, renewable sources of energy,” says Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London.”Until we do that, extreme weather events intensified by climate change will continue to destroy lives and livelihoods.”Related TopicsAntarcticEl NiñoParis climate agreementClimateSevere weatherMore on this storyWhy is the world getting warmer?Published8 FebruaryEngland and Wales had warmest February on recordPublished5 days agoWorld breaches 1.5C warming threshold for full yearPublished8 February2023 confirmed as world’s hottest year on recordPublished9 JanuaryTop StoriesHunt cuts National Insurance and extends child benefit as election loomsPublished7 hours agoChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourPublished4 hours ago’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advancePublished5 hours agoFeaturesChris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for LabourThe Papers: Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’The world’s largest robots are setting sail’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advanceDeath, disaster and redemption – England’s tumultuous tour of IndiaAttributionSportThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank. VideoThe state of the union is… Americans fill in the blank’My AI twin may get me more modelling work’Is Hugh right about Oscar films being ‘frankly too long’?How Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against Trump. VideoHow Nikki Haley battled to stay in fight against TrumpElsewhere on the BBCFrom the bagpipes to New Labour…Alastair Campbell is passionate about his interests and deeply tribal in his allegiancesAttributionSoundsCan you sort the facts from the fibs?Two of the statements are true, one is an out and out lie…AttributionBitesizeA satirical look at the scheming world of PRCharles Prentiss and Martin McCabe embark on a new career as spin doctorsAttributionSoundsA floppy disc that transformed the music sceneHow a chance encounter changed the fortunes of New Order and Factory RecordsAttributionSoundsMost Read1Rust armourer guilty of cinematographer’s death2Hunt cuts NI but is told ‘Britain deserves better’3Australian charged over high-profile disappearance4’We know what’s coming’: East Ukraine braces for Russian advance5The world’s largest robots are setting sail6Budget: Key points at a glance7Hunt cuts National Insurance again as election looms8Chris Mason: No fireworks but tax cuts headache for Labour9Afghan judge hunted by Taliban wins High Court case10Three killed in Houthi attack on ship – US military](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/13B3/production/_132834050_gettyimages-2038207474.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityAsiaChinaIndiaSouth Korea: ‘Dior bag scandal’ a political manoeuvre, president saysPublished2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, VOICE OF SEOUL/YOUTUBEImage caption, South Korea’s first lady has been embroiled in what local media call the ‘Dior bag scandal’By Kelly NgBBC NewsSpy camera footage of South Korea’s first lady accepting a luxury bag gift was leaked as a “political manoeuvre”, President Yoon Suk Yeol said.Mr Yoon said the act was “regrettable” but stopped short of apologising.He has been under pressure to address the issue, which has roiled his ruling party ahead of key elections in April.His first comments on what local media has called the “Dior bag scandal” disappointed citizens and angered the opposition.Late last year, left-wing YouTube channel Voice of Seoul published a video that purportedly showed first lady Kim Keon Hee accepting a 3m won ($2,200; £1,800) Dior bag from a pastor, who filmed the exchange in September 2022 using a camera concealed in his watch.”The video [was made public] at a time when the general election is drawing near, a year after the issue happened, so we can see this as a political manoeuvre.” Mr Yoon told broadcaster KBS.”The fact that she was unable to cold-heartedly reject him was the problem, if one can call it a problem, and it is a little regrettable,” Mr Yoon said.First lady’s Dior bag shakes South Korean politicsSome analysts have said the scandal threatens the prospects of Mr Yoon’s conservative People Power Party in April’s legislative elections. The video was released as his approval ratings were beginning to recover. The opposition Democratic Party said Mr Yoon fell short of the public’s expectations of a sincere apology.”The president’s shameless attitude is hopeless,” the party’s spokesman Kwon Chil-seung said.”It’s hard to say how long we will continue to watch the self-righteousness of a president who refuses to admit fault and apologise to the people,” Mr Kwon said. Some expressed disappointment on X, formerly Twitter. “There was no apology for the Dior bag the whole country was waiting for,” according to one comment.Another X user questioned the significance of Mr Yoon’s apology at this time: “Even if you receive an apology from such a shameless and unwilling authority, what is the meaning of that apology, which you were forced to accept like squeezing apple juice for several months?”Several conservative newspapers, such as Joongang Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo, pointed out that Mr Yoon did not comment on the appropriateness of Ms Kim’s actions.Local publications have reported that the presidential office confirmed receipt of the bag and said that it was “being managed and stored as a property of the government”.A Gallup Korea poll last week showed that Mr Yoon’s approval ratings had fallen to 29%, the lowest in nine months. The scandal involving the 51-year-old first lady was among the reasons respondents cited for their disapproval. The scandal has also caused rifts within Mr Yoon’s party. One party leader compared the first lady with Marie Antoinette, the French queen who is notorious for her extravagant ways.The Dior bag scandal is the latest in a string of controversies surrounding Ms Kim. The opposition has long accused her of being involved in stock price manipulation. Earlier this month, Mr Yoon vetoed a bill calling for his wife to be investigated over these allegations.Last year, Seoul’s government scrapped an expressway project following allegations that its construction would financially benefit Ms Kim’s family by raising the prices of land that they own.Related TopicsAsiaYoon Suk YeolSouth KoreaMore on this storyFirst lady’s Dior bag shakes South Korean politicsPublished25 JanuaryOpposition leader stabbed in neck in South KoreaPublished2 JanuaryStudents sue after exam ends 90 seconds earlyPublished20 December 2023Top StoriesWorld breaches 1.5C warming threshold for full yearPublished4 hours agoLabour ditches £28bn green investment pledgePublished8 hours ago’We are surrounded’: Guarding the Middle East’s most dangerous borderPublished7 hours agoFeaturesWhy Labour has junked its big money green policyThe Papers: William ‘gives thanks’ and ‘tone-deaf Tories’North Koreans working in China ‘exploited like slaves’I rarely saw people like me in lead roles, says One Day starImmersive screenings can weaken films – ScorseseKane on his chase for ‘team trophies’ as well as recordsAttributionSportWe don’t watch from the sidelines like Taylor SwiftWhy Trump ballot eligibility is before Supreme CourtIndian player sparks conversation on sexism in chessElsewhere on the BBC’No one was treating me seriously’The woman who went for viral for claiming to be Madeleine McCann explains her motivesAttributionSoundsA shining performance in Radio 2’s Piano Room!British soul legend Beverley Knight performs at Maida Vale with the BBC Concert OrchestraAttributionSoundsThe cities hidden beneath the waterDive deep and discover real underwater locations all across the worldAttributionBitesize’It really is walking into the unknown’Leicestershire’s youngest cops take on the front line of crimeAttributioniPlayerMost Read1William ‘gives thanks’ and ‘tone-deaf Tories’2McCann suspect to stay silent in German rape trial3French actress accuses director of historical rape4World tops 1.5C warming threshold for full year5Labour ditches £28bn green investment pledge6Disney boss bets on Fortnite and Taylor Swift7’We are surrounded’: Guarding the Middle East’s most dangerous border8Men on Viagra may reduce Alzheimer’s risk – study9Pakistan cuts off internet access as country votes10US drone kills Iran-backed militia leader in Baghdad](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/96C6/production/_132589583_344714e95dda5a87d82c3cdceaa2802e7c9ce8b8.jpg)
