Swiss press say 'absurd' European climate ruling could harm democracy

Siofra O'Leary, ECHR Court President, speaks during the verdict on three climate cases, where applicants have argued that government inaction on climate change violates human rights, case Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and 32 Other States, case Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, and case Careme v France, at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, April 9, 2024. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo

ZURICH (Reuters) - Influential newspapers in Switzerland on Wednesday criticised a climate change ruling against the Swiss government by Europe's top human rights court, saying it risked undermining democracy and the political clout of environmental groups.

Tuesday's ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in favour of over 2,000 Swiss women who said Switzerland had not done enough to combat climate change is expected to embolden more people to bring climate cases against governments.