Climate Justice and Discussion of Saúl v RWE

Join us for the second instalment of the Ronda Amazónica Talk Series, where we delve into the case of Saúl vs. RWE. In November 2015, Saúl Luciano Lliuya, a farmer and high-mountain guide from Huaraz, Peru, filed a lawsuit against the German energy company RWE, asserting that their emissions could be linked to climate change-induced glacial melting, endangering his home and those of fifty thousand residents in Huaraz. The lawsuit sought RWE’s financial responsibility for protective measures. In November 2017, the Higher Regional Court of Hamm, Germany, admitted the lawsuit and initiated the evidentiary stage, marking the first recognition by a court that a private company could be held primarily accountable for climate change-related damages, when specific harm or risks to individuals and their property can be linked to their activities.

Organized by Forum Latin America, a Max Planck Law Initiative.

Andrea Tang is a lawyer and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Development. With over a decade of experience in environmental law, her expertise primarily centres around the industrial sector and specialized knowledge in solid waste management. She is a Researcher in the Environmental Law Group of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and is a Fellow of the Environmental Sustainability Professional Fellowship Program of the US Department of State. Currently, she holds the position of Deputy Director at a non-profit organization dedicated to the management and disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Furthermore, she is part of Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s legal defence team.