<
https://theconversation.com/a-peruvian-farmer-is-trying-to-hold-energy-giant-rwe-responsible-for-climate-change-the-inside-story-of-his-groundbreaking-court-case-218408>
"On a crisp, sunny day high in the Peruvian Andes, two German judges gaze
across a mountain lake to the towering white glaciers in the distance. Dark
spots are visible on the pristine ice and, in quiet moments, the cold wind
carries the sounds of creaking and cracking.
The judges, from the German city of Hamm, have flown more than 6,500 miles to
witness the melting glaciers for themselves. It is May 2022 and their visit has
taken more than three years to organise – and some intensive diplomatic
negotiations between Peru and Germany. Also here, more than 4,500 metres above
sea level, are five German and Austrian scientific experts flying drones to
assess whether Lake Palcacocha poses a significant risk of flooding to the
thousands of people in the valley below.
A throng of local Peruvian officials have tagged along too, to share their
concerns about glacier hazards with the judges. Around two-dozen international
journalists and four documentary film teams are in the area to cover the event.
But the judges have requested they stay away from the lake so the court can do
its work.
The deep-blue water glistens ominously in the sunshine. The lake is fed by the
region’s accelerating glacial melt, powered by warming temperatures that were
long ago shown to be the result of human climate emissions.
Lake Palcacocha is the subject of an unprecedented climate justice lawsuit. On
one side, a German energy giant that is said to be responsible for 0.47% of the
world’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions. On the other, a Quechua-speaking
farmer who had never travelled outside Peru until he joined this groundbreaking
legal challenge."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
