German Court Hears Peruvian Lawsuit Against RWE Over Climate Accountability

Saúl Luciano Lliuya, a Peruvian farmer, is pursuing a landmark climate lawsuit against German energy company RWE in the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany. The case argues that RWE's historical greenhouse gas emissions have contributed to global warming, which has accelerated glacial melt and raised the water levels of Lake Palcacocha, threatening catastrophic flooding in his hometown of Huaraz. Lliuya's lawsuit seeks to hold RWE accountable for a portion of the costs associated with mitigating the flood risk, claiming the company is responsible for approximately 0.47% of climate change emissions. RWE, which does not operate in Peru, denies legal responsibility, asserting that climate change is a collective issue requiring broader international policy solutions. Experts emphasize that the outcome of this case could establish a precedent for corporate liability in climate change damages. The court previously dispatched a delegation to assess the risks posed by the melting glaciers to the local population.