Legal Action against Sweden: Greta Thunberg and 600 young activists take the state to court.

Sweden faces lawsuits and mounting criticism as its new right- wing government fails to take adequate measures to stop climate change. More than 600 children and young activists including Greta Thunberg have sued Sweden state, accusing it of climate inaction.

“More than 600 children and young activists, including Greta Thunberg, on Friday, sued Sweden state, accusing it of climate inaction. There has never been such a large-scale case filed in the Sweden legal system”, Ida Edling, a member of the organization behind the lawsuit, made a legal statement. 

The legal action, which has been in the works for two years, comes to light as Sweden’s new right-wing government faces mounting criticism for not taking adequate measures to stop climate change. 

The 600 young activists, along with Greta Thunberg, are demanding action and the reason for the government’s inactiveness in preventing climate change. 

Moa Midmark, a 19-year-old student, said she was taking part in Friday’s demonstration because “the climate crisis is worrying and scary – we’re headed for a catastrophe .”  

This isn’t the first lawsuit filed against the state regarding climate inaction. There was one previously filed electronically to another Stockholm court. The lawsuit is first in the Sweden courts, while six Portuguese youths have taken Sweden and 32 other countries to the European Court of Human Rights, accusing them of failing to address the climate crisis. 

Legal Action against Sweden

“If we win, there will be a verdict that says the Swedish state is required to do its share of the global measures needed for the world to meet the 1.5-degree target”, Ms. Edling said.

In a report published earlier this week, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute said the average temperature in Sweden had risen nearly 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1800s, twice as fast as the global average. Snow cover now lasts two weeks less, while precipitation has increased, raising the tension among the citizens.

In recent years, many organizations, especially the youth-led and the citizens, are taking to the courts to criticize what they claim is government inaction on the climate. 

Anjali Sharma, the lead litigant vows to keep fighting for climate justice, despite the Federal Court ruling against them. “I’m still feeling really angry that we had to take the federal government to court in the first place, and had to argue for the fact that that duty of care exists in the law in Australian climate law,” the 17-year-old said, on 15, March 2022. 

“Even though we were knocked back by the court, it doesn’t mean that the fight for climate justice stops.”

In 2020, eight Australian high school students took the environment minister to court seeking to block the expansion of a coal mine that is expected to produce an additional 100 million tons of carbon emission. 

The next decade is critical in reversing damaging trends, such as rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions. The Climate crisis is considered the most crucial topic that requires immediate action from the governing bodies for future generations to survive, and the lawsuit has given hope for change. 

But it’s not just leaders who are taking action. Around the world, individuals are leading the fight against climate change; calling on their governments and corporations to take action to protect our planet and ensure we all have a safe place to call home.

The reason behind the lawsuit is an attempt to protect the future. The awareness of climate change is spreading no less than a fire among youngsters and civilians. This decade has seen many bravest climate activists who have always stood up for their rights for a better tomorrow inspiring us to fight climate change.