Justice & Environment member, Bankwatch Association Romania (BWA, Romania), has joined Declic, one of Romania’s most influential NGOs, supporting the first-ever climate lawsuit of the country.
The reason for this lawsuit is the Government’s failure to take necessary measures that can reduce and mitigate the risks of the climate crisis. They also asked the court to impose on the Romanian Prime Minister Nicoale Ciucă and on the Ministers of Environment and Energy fines for every day of inaction.
This Monday, 10 April, the initial hearing for the trial took place in the Cluj Court of Appeal. The plaintiffs seek an order from the court that requires the authorities to take all necessary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 in comparison with 1990 levels and to attain climate neutrality by 2050. In addition, they demand that the Romanian Government increases the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 45 per cent and improves energy efficiency by 13 per cent by 2030.
Ioana Ciuta, president of Bankwatch Romania, says: ‘The time has come to reshape the question of responsibility for the climate crisis. Romania ranks third from the bottom in the EU when it comes to installed capacity of solar and wind per capita. Practically no new capacity was installed between 2016 and 2021, and the CO2 intensity of its economy is way above the EU average. Instead of turning towards sustainable solutions, the Romanian Government has offered numerous blank cheques to the biggest polluters, always putting individual responsibility above the real responsibility of the polluters – many of whom are state-owned companies. We are hopeful that this case will set the record straight.’