I would like to take a moment to cheer for big news from our small country, The Netherlands. A court ruled today that the government should do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of course it is actually very sad and frustrating that this was necessary. It is 2015, all over the world ecosystems are falling apart with deadly consequences (e.g. the heat waves in India and Pakistan) and the political system cannot manage to do something about it. In a democracy, that means that there must be something wrong with our priorities as voters.
However, this case is the beginning of a shift. In March this year, legal experts have presented the Oslo Principles. In this document, they set out that governments and businesses are violating existing laws if they do not do enough to combat climate change. This inaction has harmful consequences for nature as well as the health and safety of millions of people.
Armed with this information, the lawyers of Urgenda have started a case, and won it today. The whole process is closely followed by international media, because of course this is only the beginning. It could mean the end of indecisive politics and countries that shift responsibility around. A little less conversation, a little more action!