Youth vs Europe: 'Unprecedented' climate trial kicks off at rights court

FILE PHOTO: Andre, 15 and Sofia Oliveira, 18 pose for a picture in Almada, Portugal, July 29, 2023. They are part of a group of six that took action in the European court against 32 countries for allegedly failing to do their part to avert climate catastrophe. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

(Reuters) -Six young people from areas in Portugal ravaged by wildfires and heatwaves took 32 European governments to court on Wednesday, arguing their failure to act fast enough on climate change is a violation of their human rights.

The case - filed in September 2020 against the 27 EU member states as well as Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Russia and Turkey - is the largest climate case ever to be heard by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg.