INTERNATIONAL climate talks may be stalled, but the fight to protect the planet from dangerous warming goes on.
Early this year, The Federated States of Micronesia issued a legal challenge to the Czech Republic over a plan to extend the life of the Prunerov power station, one of the dirtiest in the world.
Micronesia鈥檚 argument was that emissions from Prunerov are threatening its very existence by contributing to global warming and, ultimately, raising sea levels.
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That challenge fizzled out, but it won鈥檛 be the last time that big emitters find themselves facing legal proceedings. In the US, for example, there are three ongoing cases that could result in financial penalties for emitters or, more significantly, force cuts to future emissions (see 鈥淐limate change battle moves to courtrooms鈥�). A victory in any would embolden other groups and even nations to sue energy companies in US courts.
Given the likely failure of the next round of United Nations talks, this new tactic will be closely watched. It suggests we are entering a new and interesting phase. As one of our interviewees says: 鈥淭he war to save the climate will have many, many fronts.鈥�