In March 2019, various NGOs lodged four charges before the administrative court of Paris against the French State in respect of its deficiencies in the fight against climate change, and sought reparation for their moral damage, for ecological damage. Last Wednesday the court ruled that the action for compensation for ecological damage, provided for by the civil code, was admissible and open against the State. The court held that the State should be held responsible for part of this damage if it had not respected its commitments in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It rejected the claim for compensation for ecological damage and stressed that such compensation is primarily in kind, the damages being pronounced only in the event of impossibility or insufficient repair measures.
However, the applicants were justified in requesting compensation in kind for the ecological damage caused by non-compliance with the objectives set by France in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A two month period for additional investigation was ordered to determine the measures to be ordered to the State to repair the damage caused or prevent its aggravation.
Finally, the court considered that the shortcomings of the State in respecting its commitments in the fight against global warming undermined the collective interests defended by each of the applicant associations, and awarded each of the NGOs the sum of one euro which each had requested by way of compensation.
The judgment, in French, is to be found here: 1904967-1904968-1904972-1904976
