Seniors are challenging Switzerland

She impressed our readers – and stirred them up: our portrait of 73-year-old environmental activist Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti triggered a whole host of reactions. As a reminder, seniors like her have launched proceedings at the European Court of Human Rights to get Switzerland to do more for the climate.

Keep going, you brave women. Your work must bear fruit. Do not be discouraged. Future generations will thank you.

Magda Gonzalez

Colombia

Hats off! Make some noise for the work these senior ladies in Switzerland are doing. Quote: ‘The official Swiss position is that climate protection is a complex matter for politics, not for the courts.’ This misses the point entirely: these senior ladies are not bringing proceedings against climate protection(!) – but because the government is not doing enough about it. The legal action is directed against the people responsible in government! Basically, if they don’t want to perform their legal duties of their own free will, they should be forced to do so! And, if there’s no alternative, take them to the European Court of Human Rights! That’s what it’s there for!
Bernhard Nater, Germany

Well done, grannies... that is your role... leaving the world a better place than you found it... and also, you were part of the cause of this bad situation. *Better late than never*
Elizabeth Bischof, Bahrain
 

Congratulations. I fully support the action this association is taking.

Jean-Stephan Clerc

Peru

I have a lot of respect for our elders engaging in this battle. However, I’m not convinced they’re going to win. If their appeal is upheld, the State will have to pay damages to the association. The claim that the State is not doing enough for the climate will still be true, no matter which measures are taken, because action for the climate is not quantifiable. We already know that the issue is complicated, and these ladies deserve credit for making their voices heard and helping to raise awareness. When you think about how much it costs to bring legal proceedings, wouldn’t it be better to use that money for something more meaningful?
Philippe Stutz, France

More about the topic

Link to the hearing in Strasbourg of 29 March 2023: revue.link/hearing