More Climate Breakdown Litigation

In the last 50 years, a glacial lake in Peru has increased to 34 times its initial volume. There is consequently now a very serious danger of a devastating outburst flood from lake Palcacoche. In 2017, judges in Hamm, Germany, agreed to consider a lawsuit against Germany's largest electricity provider, RWE (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/27/peru-lake-palcacocha-climate-crisis-lawsuit). A Peruvian farmer and guide sued RWE for 17,000 euros. He wanted this as a contribution to the expensive remedial work, needed to attempt to prevent an outburst from lake Palcacoche. RWE is Europe's largest emitter of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a major caused of global heating. Rather obviously, Germany is a long way from Peru. The fact that German judges have recently visited Peru to assess the level of damage suggests, however, that 'out of sight, out of mind' may not function as an effective defense for very much longer. Polluters should pay. It will be difficult, however, to work out a fair contribution for RWE.