German Court Holds RWE Liable for Climate Change Impacts

A landmark German court ruling holds RWE AG partially liable for climate change impacts. The case, brought by Peruvian resident Saúl Luciano Lliuya, argued that RWE's emissions exacerbated flood risks in Huaraz, Peru. While Lliuya's individual claim was dismissed, the court affirmed that RWE's emissions interfered with rights and property in other countries, establishing legal liability under German civil law. This precedent-setting decision could reshape climate litigation globally, signaling a new era of corporate accountability for climate-related harms, even though the damages claim failed.