1. Liability for climate change? European perspective
Prof. Dr. Stefan Perner
Lisbon, 4 October 2019
AIDA Europe Conference

2. Starting point
International jurisdiction & Conflict of Laws
Tort Law
Conclusions

3. I. Starting point How to fight climate change in Europe?
Political agenda
National level: Cf. Austria – State of climate emergency
EU level: Cf. Art 9 (c) (iv) Directive 2010/13/EU (protection of the environment)

4. I. Starting point How to fight climate change in Europe?
Political agenda
National level: Cf. Austria – State of climate emergency
EU level: Cf. Art 9 (c) (iv) Directive 2010/13/EU (protection of the environment)
Legal mechanisms: Administrative law vs. tort law
Administrative law
Vienna International Airport – 3rd Runway Case
Klimaseniorinnen (CH)

5. I. Starting point How to fight climate change in Europe?
Political agenda
National level: Cf. Austria – State of climate emergency
EU level: Cf. Art 9 (c) (iv) Directive 2010/13/EU (protection of the environment)
Legal mechanisms: Administrative law vs. tort law
Administrative law
Vienna International Airport – 3rd Runway Case
Klimaseniorinnen (CH)
Tort law: Lliuya / RWE (Germany)

6. Jurisdiction & Conflict of Laws

7. Jurisdiction & Conflict of Laws
Brussels Ia Regulation 1215/2012
Art 4: defendant’s domicile  RWE can be sued in Germany
Art 7 (2) harmful event / Art 7 (5) establishment / Art 8 (1) multiple defendants

8. Jurisdiction & Conflict of Laws
Brussels Ia Regulation 1215/2012
Art 4: defendant’s domicile  RWE can be sued in Germany
Art 7 (2) harmful event / Art 7 (5) establishment / Art 8 (1) multiple defendants
Rome II Regulation 864/2007
Art 4 (1): law of the country where damage occurs (Peruvian law)
Higher standards in victim’s home state: Rules have to be taken into account (Art 17)
Lower standards in victim’s home state: Option to choose law where event giving rise to the damage occurred (Art 7)

9. III. Tort Law Academic literature
Journal of European Tort Law 2017, Special Issue 2: Climate Change and Environmental Liability
contributions of Martin Spitzer (Ed.), Bernhard Burtscher, Monika Hinteregger, Jaap Spier, Philip Sutherland

10. Prerequisites for damages
Harm
Property (RWE)
Life / health (cf. Klimaseniorinnen)
Consequential Damage / Pure Economic Loss / Ecosystem

11. Prerequisites for damages
Harm
Property (RWE)
Life / health (cf. Klimaseniorinnen)
Consequential Damage / Pure Economic Loss / Ecosystem
Misconduct: Failure to meet standard of behaviour (RWE?)
Time frame
Aggregate vs. individual level
Public authorization: Environmental impact assessment / emission trading scheme
Liability without misconduct?

12. Prerequisites for damages
Harm
Property (RWE)
Life / health (cf. Klimaseniorinnen)
Consequential Damage / Pure Economic Loss / Ecosystem
Misconduct: Failure to meet standard of behaviour (RWE?)
Time frame
Aggregate vs. individual level
Public authorization: Environmental impact assessment / emission trading scheme
Liability without misconduct?
Causation: But-for-test
Alternative causation
Minimal causation (RWE)
Alternative causation incl. hazard

13. Conclusions

14. Liability for climate change? European perspective
Prof. Dr. Stefan Perner
Lisbon, 4 October 2019
AIDA Europe Conference