It is a battle between David and Goliath. This time, however, the behemoth won. A German organic farmer has failed in a climate case against the Volkswagen Group. The farmer had accused VW of excessive CO2 emissions and demanded that they stop doing so.
The car company must significantly reduce the sale of cars and light commercial vehicles with combustion engines and stop completely in 2030, says farmer Ulf Allhoff-Cramer. However, the judges of the court in Detmold rejected this plan. In their verdict, announced on Friday, they pointed out that it was not certain whether the alleged impairments would be eliminated with the required cessation of internal combustion engine activities. The court justified its decision by saying that VW cannot be forced to rely solely on electric propulsion technology in the future, as there are other serious alternatives to petrol and diesel engines, such as fuel cell powertrains.
Greenpeace was disappointed and announced that it would appeal. “The verdict gives the fatal impression that the court did not want to elaborate on the detailed connection between VW’s massive CO₂ emissions and the damage already felt by the plaintiff,” said Greenpeace board member Martin Kaiser. “However, in view of a galloping climate crisis, we believe it is essential to get the global responsibility of a group like Volkswagen, with its nationwide carbon footprint, clarified in court,” Kaier continued.
VW: Task of the legislator, not of the judge
Volkswagen, on the other hand, saw confirmation of its position that climate lawsuits against individual companies that failed several times in recent times were the wrong way and that there was no legal basis for this. “The court confirmed that Volkswagen is engaged in a permissible activity that is definitively regulated by Union law and that it is not the role of a regional court to decide on such climate policy issues,” VW said in a statement. It is the task of the legislator to shape climate protection with its far-reaching consequences.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
