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We utilize law as a tool to drive systemic change
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Because law shapes reality
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This makes climate-friendly behavior intuitive, simple, and cost-effective
Empowering a Sustainable Legal System against a Tipping Future
A legal system that harms the climate, infringes fundamental rights and damages the economy is not fit for our future
A legal system that harms the climate, infringes fundamental rights and damages the economy is not fit for our future
Climate-damaging behaviour is promoted with subsidies
Climate targets are not binding
Climate protection is not sufficiently anchored in the law
No laws exist to ensure rights to climate protection and and to a healthy environment
We need climate lawsuits
Collective empowerment against climate-damaging behaviour and for climate-friendly measures
Collective empowerment against climate-damaging behaviour and for climate-friendly measures
Example: Climate Lawsuit URGENDA (NL)
The state was made to increase its CO2 reduction targets (from 20 to 25%). The government took several measures to put the ruling into force:
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Closure of a coal-fired power plant
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Reduction of the upper speed limit on motorways
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Introduction of several subsidy programs to support renewable energies and energy efficiency measures
Example: Climate lawsuit Neubauer (DE)
In response to the ruling, the federal legislature passed an amended climate protection law that requires a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. It has been in force since 31 August 2021.
CLAW creates framework conditions for climate lawsuits
CLAW creates framework conditions for climate lawsuits
We create the organizational, communicative and financial basis for climate lawsuits
We drive systemic change rather than shifting responsibility to individuals
We show what rules and laws have to look like for a future worth living
Recap
- First Austrian Climate Lawsuit
against climate-damaging tax exemptions for international flights and kerosene (VfGH)
conducted by M. Krömer with Greenpeace Austria - European Climate Lawsuit #MEX
against the violation of fundamental rights caused by state inaction regarding the climate crisis (ECtHR)
conducted by M. Krömer with Fridays For Future Austria supported by Urgenda Litigation Network - Austrian Climate Lawsuit 2.0
Reply to the rejection of the first climate lawsuit, mainly concerning the lack of complaint procedures
conducted by M. Krömer
Status quo
- Austrian generational lawsuit
Twelve children and young people file a complaint with the Constitutional Court against the inadequate climate protection law. The second trial is currently underway.conducted by M. Krömer with Fridays For Future Austria - EU taxonomy climate lawsuit
Challenging the award of a "green" label for aviation and shipping by the European Commission.conducted by five European NGOs including CLAW - Photovoltaics climate lawsuit
Challenging the protection zone ordinance in Lower Austria in interest of the energy transition.conducted by Michaela Krömer
Team
Mag.a Michaela Krömer LL.M.
Attorney at law for climate, environmental and constitutional law
Chairwoman and founder
"Austria's most prominent climate lawyer" Falter 22/2021
Fundamental Rights Award awarded by the League for Human Rights (2021)
Initiator of the first climate change lawsuits in front of the ECtHR for Human Rights and the Austrian Constitutional Court
Mag. Florian Graber LL.M.
Climate & environmental lawyer
Expert in environmental and climate law
bar exam
LL.M in Global Environment and Climate Change Law
PhD student at JKU Linz.
Mag. (FH) Simon Schupp
Business management and partnerships
Entrepreneur with focus on company building & business development
Ex-Corporate Manager & Expert for New Mobility
Flora Beck
PR & Communication Management
Environmental science background with specialisation in climate justice
Experience in the field of Digital marketing, PR and science communication
Annalena Sommer
Philanthropy Associate
MSc. (Business and Consumer) Psychology
Master's student in Environmental Studies & Sustainability Science in Lund (Sweden)
Experience in digital marketing, project development and fundraising
Advisory Board
Miriam Saage-Maaß
Lawyer & Legal Director (ECCHR)
Specializes in business and human rights. Conducts criminal proceedings against executives for international crimes and regularly publishes on corporate responsibility and human rights. Awarded the Hans Litten Prize 2016. Member of the Advisory Board of the Bonavero Human Rights Institute and CorA Network.
Femke Bartels
Global Managing Director & Partner, THNK School of Creative Leadership
Femke Bartels has dedicated her career to bringing about the change needed for a just and sustainable world.
She has worked in government, politics and has held several global roles at Greenpeace.
Gernot Wagner
Climate Economist & Senior Lecturer, Columbia Business School
Gernot Wagner is an Austrian American economist and author. He has taught and conducted research at Columbia Business School since 2022, working at New York University and Harvard University before that.
He co- authored “Climate Shock”, the Science Book of the Year 2017, with Martin L. Weitzman.
Lotte Leicht
Advocacy Director, Climate Rights International
Lotte Leicht is a Danish jurist who specializes in international human rights and humanitarian law, international criminal law, justice for serious international crimes, and in international advocacy. She serves on the Heinrich Boell Foundation ́s North-South advisory board, and she is serving on the Foundation ́s membership board. She also serves on the board of the Danish Institute Against Torture (Dignity). Lotte Leicht was Human Rights Watch’s European Union Director from 1994 to 2021.
Sébastien Jodoin
Ass. Prof. & Canada Research Chair in Human Rights, Health, and Environment
Founding Director of the Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Research Program, a ground-breaking initiative to generate, co-produce, and implement knowledge at the intersections of disability and climate justice. His work in the field of climate change has been cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Sony Kapoor
Professor, European University Institute CEO, Nordic Institute for Finance, Technology and Sustainability
Sony Kapoor is a macroeconomist, financial expert, development specialist, and sustainability consultant. He has a long track record of addressing political, economic, and social challenges and his career spans banking, asset management, policy making, strategy consulting, policy research, policy advocacy, and civil society in dozens of countries.
Philipp Blom
Writer and historian
Philipp Blom studied philosophy, history and Jewish studies in Vienna and Oxford. He writes regularly for European and American magazines and newspapers. Numerous awards, including a fellowship at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles, the PremisInternacionals Terenci Moix, and the German Nonfiction Prize. His most recent publication is "Die Unterwerfung. Anfang und Ende der menschlichen Herrschaft über die Natur" (Hanser, 2022).
Two pillars
for maximum success
Two pillars
for maximum success
Create communicative and financial foundations to enable climate lawsuits and activities
association
→
↓
Commissioning and financing of strategic climate processes
Advising and litigating in the area of climate law in order to implement the necessary transformation process
non-profit law firm
(in planning)
Smart start.
Big impact.
Why Austria?
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Potential for role model climate cases due to system deficits
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Legal protection deficits as basis for bringing cases to the European level
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Austria falls very short of greenhouse gas reduction targets
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Successful climate lawsuits in Austria as basis for a dynamic process of change in Europe (analogous to Urgenda NL)
Why CLAW?
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Proof of concept based on previous climate lawsuits
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Enforced, legal proceedings instead of opportunistic announcements
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Legal work instead of activist campaigns
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ROCE (Return on Climate & Environment) instead of ROI (Return on Investment)
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Clear mission with principles based on problems/solutions/results.
Support makes
the difference
Support
- To enable climate lawsuits actively and successfully
- To proactively help shape the legal system of the future
- To build a powerful team and structures
There is a world where the most climate-friendly behaviour feelsintuitive, easy and is the cheapest option.
Join us!
CLAW - initiative for climate justice
IBAN AT05 2011 1845 7393 7100
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