South Korea's Constitutional Court has begun hearing a case that accuses the government of having failed to protect 200 people, including dozens of young environmental activists and children, by not tackling climate change.

Seoul

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### South Korean Court Hears Children's Climate Change Case

South Korea's Constitutional Court has initiated proceedings on a landmark case where the government is being accused of inadequate action on climate change. This case, brought forward by young environmental activists and children, alleges that the government's inaction on climate change has failed to safeguard the wellbeing of 200 individuals, highlighting the participation of dozens of children and infants in this lawsuit.

The case, described as Asia's first climate litigation of its kind, encompasses four petitions filed since 2020, including a notable one from an individual referred to as "Woodpecker" who was a fetus when the litigation was initiated. Outside the court, a group of youths, including the now one-year-old Woodpecker, demonstrated to underscore the urgency of their cause.

Lee Dong-hyun, Woodpecker's mother, voiced her concerns, stating that delays in carbon emission reduction are akin to postponing necessary work, warning of the burdens that future generations will inherit. Another young plaintiff, eight-year-old Kim Hana, shared her distress over environmental changes impacting bee and bird populations.

In defense, government lawyers asserted that efforts are being made to reduce carbon emissions substantially without infringing on the fundamental rights of the populace. They clarified that there was no discrimination towards the youth in their policies and mentioned the possibility of modifying annual carbon reduction targets as needed.

This lawsuit gains significance as South Korea revised its 2030 targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector last year, maintaining the national goal to reduce emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels. This adjustment was termed as a "reasonable change" by the authorities, though several activists have expressed dissatisfaction with the government's stance.

The hearing comes in the wake of a ruling by Europe's top human rights court against the Swiss government, citing insufficient action on climate change. This is amidst a global trend where courts in countries like Australia, Brazil, and Peru are examining similar cases related to governmental responsibilities and climate change.



South Korean court hears children's climate change case

South Korea's Constitutional Court began hearing a case on Tuesday brought by young environmental activists and children against the government. The plaintiffs accused the government of failing to protect 200 people by not tackling climate change. They say the proceeding is Asia's first such climate-related litigation. It includes four petitions by children and infants among others dating from 2020. One is from a fetus at the time, nicknamed Woodpecker. Dozens of young people, including Woodpecker, who is now a year old, gathered outside the court. Lee Dong-hyun is Woodpecker's mother. Carbon emission reduction keeps getting pushed back, as if it is a homework that can be done later. But that burden will be our children's to bear eventually. Kim Hana is an eight-year-old plaintiff in the case. It's too hot, and then too many bees are disappearing, and birds too. Lawyers for the government told the court the authorities were doing everything possible to cut carbon emissions and not violate the basic rights of its people. They added that the government did not discriminate against young people, and there could be adjustments to annual goals on carbon reduction. Last year, South Korea revised down its 2030 targets for greenhouse gas reductions in the industrial sector, though it kept its national goal of cutting emissions by 40 percent of 2018 levels, describing the move as a reasonable change. Several activists said the government's response was unsatisfactory. Tuesday's hearing comes weeks after Europe's top human rights court ruled that the Swiss government had violated its citizens' rights by not doing enough to combat climate change. Courts in Australia, Brazil and Peru are weighing similar cases.

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