"He fights for everyone!"

Climate ruling gives hope to Austrians in wheelchairs

No appeal is possible against the ruling by Judge Siofra O'Leary (right).(Bild: AFP)

The European Court of Justice has condemned Switzerland for failing to protect the climate. This gives hope to a seriously ill Austrian.

For the first time, a country has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for failing to protect the climate.

Lawsuit by 2000 senior citizens
The court in Strasbourg condemned Switzerland for violating the Convention on Human Rights following a complaint by 2,000 senior citizens. This also affects the lawsuit filed by an Austrian.

No appeal is possible against the ruling by Judge Siofra O'Leary (right).(Bild: AFP)

Celebrating senior citizens in Strasbourg(Bild: APA/AFP/Frederick FLORIN)

Lower Austrian suffers from multiple sclerosis
Mex M. (43) from the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria suffers from multiple sclerosis. He also complained to Austria, because: If it is warmer than 25 degrees, his nerve conduction speed slows down and he has to get into a wheelchair. At over 30 degrees, he can no longer push it himself. He sued Austria for failing to protect the climate, but the Constitutional Court dismissed the case. Now he is trying his case in Strasbourg. His case will be heard in the coming months.

Following the decision of the European Court of Justice, the parameters for our case are very positive.

Michaela Krömer, Anwältin von Mex. M

"He fights for everyone!"
Unlike the senior citizens in Switzerland, he is not suing as an association, but as an individual. The biggest difference: Mex M. is much more affected because he is already in a wheelchair and there are already direct effects of global warming. It's not about money for him. So the Lower Austrian hasn't asked for any money either. "He wants to achieve a systemic change," explains his lawyer Michaela Krömer. "He's fighting for everyone!" If Mex M. wins, Austria undertakes to enact a climate protection law.

On Tuesday, the court declined to rule on the climate lawsuit brought by six young Portuguese against 32 states. The plaintiffs had not exhausted the legal channels in their home country, according to the reasoning. The climate action brought by a French ex-mayor was also dismissed.