For over five years, the Czech Climate Litigation has been fighting for stronger climate protection and a sustainable future. The case is now before the European Court of Human Rights, which could reshape both Czech and European climate policy.
Czechia’s energy and climate policy has been demonstrably failing its own objectives for a number of years. Our national greenhouse gas emissions are way above global and European averages, reaching 11.38 t CO2 (eq.) per capita in 2021. The main reason is the lack of meaningful political will for a change. Our government has no serious plan to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, moreover, it frequently undermines EU-wide plans and has been a vocal opponent of the Green Deal.
Czechia’s energy and climate policy has been demonstrably failing its own objectives for a number of years. Our national greenhouse gas emissions are way above global and European averages, reaching 11.38 t CO2 (eq.) per capita in 2021. The main reason is the lack of meaningful political will for a change. Our government has no serious plan to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality, moreover, it frequently undermines EU-wide plans and has been a vocal opponent of the Green Deal.
We are an association of Czech citizens determined to change this, which is why we filed our country’s first climate lawsuit against four government ministries.
- Why We Filed a Complaint with the European Court of Human Rights
After filing a lawsuit in 2021 against Czech ministries and the government, we took the case all the way to the highest Czech courts. After our case was dismissed by the Supreme Administrative Court and ultimately by the Constitutional Court in November 2025, we have filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights in February 2026—the final authority that can protect the rights of Czech citizens and change the rules of the game in Europe.
If we succeed at the European Court:
- we will have recognition that the Czech Republic is not doing enough for the climate and is violating the rights of its citizens,
- the Czech Republic must comply with the judgment and implement additional measures to protect the climate and reduce emissions,
- the possibility opens up to reopen the case before Czech courts,
- we will advance the protection of human rights against the impacts of climate change in other European countries as well,
- the Czech Republic will be under international pressure from the Council of Europe, which monitors compliance with ECHR rulings.
Furthermore, we are building on the successful lawsuit filed by Swiss senior citizens (KlimaSeniorinnen), which was based on arguments similar to those in our lawsuit.
If we succeed at the European Court:
- we will have recognition that the Czech Republic is not doing enough for the climate and is violating the rights of its citizens,
- the Czech Republic must comply with the judgment and implement additional measures to protect the climate and reduce emissions,
- the possibility opens up to reopen the case before Czech courts,
- we will advance the protection of human rights against the impacts of climate change in other European countries as well,
- the Czech Republic will be under international pressure from the Council of Europe, which monitors compliance with ECHR rulings.
Furthermore, we are building on the successful lawsuit filed by Swiss senior citizens (KlimaSeniorinnen), which was based on arguments similar to those in our lawsuit.
- Why is the Climate Litigation important for people in Czechia as well as in the EU?
Our eventual success will have a major and lasting impact on climate-related government policy as well as subsequent court decisions in Czechia and Europe. It will also provide a big help to a great number of people and organizations in similar lawsuits. The court rulings to this date have already kickstarted a serious discussion on the need for Czechia’s own Climate Protection Law.
Moreover, Czechia has a lively and highly organized civil society with a number of grassroots organizations advocating for better environmental policies, that also hold regular protests, strikes, and appeals demanding climate justice. Too often, they encounter indifference from the authorities, and their demands only rarely result in adoption of effective policies. In this context, our initiative also aims to support these cases with a solid legal basis that will make it easier to push all parts of government towards long-lasting fair and just decision-making, thereby further empowering the civil society.
Thirdly, our Climate Litigation can also help steer Czechia’s foreign policy, including its role at EU-level negotiations, toward true climate neutrality and transform our country’s position from that of a nay-sayer into one that actively promotes bold approaches to European climate policy.
- What do we require financial support for?
The Czech Climate Litigation association relies on volunteer work. Financial support means a great deal to us and helps us be more active and visible.
We will use the funds from donations for our activity, mainly:
- legal support in the next phase of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights,
- organizing events and happenings to raise awareness of our case and educate the public about climate law,
- improving communication both online and offline.
We will use the funds from donations for our activity, mainly:
- legal support in the next phase of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights,
- organizing events and happenings to raise awareness of our case and educate the public about climate law,
- improving communication both online and offline.
We are most grateful for all forms of your support!
More information about us and our efforts can be found on our website: https://www.klimazaloba.cz/en/
More information about us and our efforts can be found on our website: https://www.klimazaloba.cz/en/
In case of any questions, please feel free to get in touch at dary@klimazaloba.cz.
We manage the raised funds in a transparent way on this bank account: https://ib.fio.cz/ib/transparent?a=98739873
- International coverage of our case:
