Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Greenpeace-led case against Volkswagen admissible, unlikely to succeed, German court says

Published 10/01/2023, 13:58
Updated 10/01/2023, 19:41
© Reuters. The VW logo is seen on the ID. Buzz, a fresh take on the iconic vehicle of the Volkswagen brand, during its world premiere in Paris, France, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

© Reuters. The VW logo is seen on the ID. Buzz, a fresh take on the iconic vehicle of the Volkswagen brand, during its world premiere in Paris, France, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

By Victoria Waldersee

BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany (Reuters) - A case led by Greenpeace against Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) demanding that the automaker tighten its carbon reduction targets is admissible but unlikely to succeed, a German district court said on Tuesday, with a further hearing scheduled for Jan 31.

The three plaintiffs - two heads of Greenpeace Germany and environmental activist Clara Mayer - argue that the carmaker is violating their fundamental freedoms via its impact on climate change.

They are demanding that Volkswagen stops production of fossil fuel-emitting cars by 2030 and reduces carbon emissions by at least 65% from 2018 levels by then.

The lawsuits draw on a German ruling in May 2020 that the country was breaching the fundamental rights of future generations by failing to protect them from the consequences of climate change and a Dutch ruling the same month ordering oil firm Shell (LON:RDSa) to reduce its emissions.

However, the Braunschweig court said it was not clear whether the German ruling was applicable in a case between private entities.

"Fundamental rights apply directly between citizens and the state. The peculiarity here is that this is a case of a private individual against a privately acting company... the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed," said Bastian Willers, spokesperson for the Braunschweig court.

A Stuttgart district court dropped a similar case by NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) against Mercedes-Benz, stating there was not yet tangible proof of how the automaker's actions infringed on the rights of the plaintiffs.

It also argued that the legislature, not courts, was responsible for environmental protection.

© Reuters. The VW logo is seen on the ID. Buzz, a fresh take on the iconic vehicle of the Volkswagen brand, during its world premiere in Paris, France, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

The NGO has appealed the ruling, which Greenpeace lawyer Roda Verheyen said her clients will also do if the court dismisses their case later this month.

Another case by DUH against BMW in Munich is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for February 7.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.