Urgent Call for Definitive Action
In a groundbreaking decision, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled in favour of a group of Swiss senior women in a climate-related lawsuit, setting a precedent for future legal actions and underscoring the urgent need for effective climate protection measures, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).
The ruling emphasises that the health of older women is particularly at risk from stronger and longer-lasting heatwaves. A 2022 NRW survey revealed that women, especially older women, reported more frequent sleep problems, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and circulation issues due to heat. Worryingly, women over 75 are overrepresented in heatwave-related deaths in Germany.
The ECtHR's ruling should guide action in NRW, specifically in the context of the Action Plan Climate Health NRW. This plan, though not directly accessible in the search results, is expected to address gender-sensitive health risks related to heatwaves and extreme weather.
The plan is likely to incorporate several specific strategies and measures focused on gender and intersectionality. These include the collection and use of sex- and gender-disaggregated data, gender-responsive communication and public awareness, capacity building for stakeholders, empowerment of women and marginalised groups, an intersectional approach accounting for multidimensional factors, and the integration with climate and health policies.
The plan aims to recognise and address the vulnerabilities of various groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, infants and children, those with pre-existing conditions, individuals taking medication, socially isolated individuals, those with regular alcohol or drug consumption, those who work outdoors, and those with limited socioeconomic resources.
Addressing climate health is necessary in light of a changing job market. Extreme weather conditions can impact employees' health, and it's important to protect them and ensure future-proof workplaces.
The ECtHR's ruling highlights the importance of addressing climate health in light of a changing job market, underscoring the need for gender-sensitive and gender-equitable communication, education, prevention, planning, and implementation of protective measures in climate action. This is the first successful climate case before the ECtHR, making climate protection a matter of human rights.
[1] UNFCCC Gender Action Plans [2] World Health Organization (WHO) Gender and Climate Change: Health Risks and Opportunities [3] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C (SR15)
- The decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) acknowledges the heightened risk of health issues, particularly in older women, due to increased and prolonged heatwaves, which are linked to climate change.
- In response to the ECtHR's ruling, the Action Plan Climate Health NRW is expected to focus on gender-sensitive health risks associated with extreme weather, adopting strategies that prioritize data collection, gender-responsive communication, and the empowerment of women.
- This decision marks the first successful climate case before the ECtHR, emphasizing the connection between climate health, job market changes, and human rights, particularly in relation to gender equality and the protection of women's health, as outlined in UNFCCC Gender Action Plans, WHO Gender and Climate Change reports, and IPCC Special Reports.
