Stockholm: Greta Thunberg sues Swedish government for not doing enough to fight climate change
was among the hundreds of activists marching through the Swedish capital to a court to file a legal claim against the state for what they say is insufficient climate action. More than 600 people under the age of 26 signed the 87-page document that is the basis for the claim, which was filed in the Stockholm District Court. They want the court to rule that the country's climate policies have violated its citizens' human rights. Anton Foley, spokesman of the youth-led initiative Aurora, which prepared and filed the claim, said: ' has never treated the climate crisis like a crisis. 'Sweden is failing in its responsibility and breaking the law.' Thunberg tweeted yesterday: 'Today on Black Friday is the perfect day to sue the state over its insufficient climate policies. 'So thats what we did. 'See you in court!' A few hours later she posted: 'School strike week 223. 'Today we are 636 young people in @auroramalet who are suing the Swedish state for insufficient climate action. 'Therefore we now marched from the parliament to the court.' Another activist, Ida Edling, said Sweden 'is pursuing a climate policy the research is very clear will contribute to a climate disaster in the future'. In 2017, Sweden's parliament decided that by 2045 the nation will have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases entering into the atmosphere and 100% renewable energy. Swedish broadcaster TV4 said the government declined to comment on ongoing legal action. Climate campaigners have launched numerous lawsuits against governments and companies in recent years - with mixed results. In one of the most high-profile cases, Germany's top court ruled last year the government had to alter its climate targets to avoid unduly burdening the young. The German government reacted by bringing forward its target for net zero emissions by five years to 2045 and laying more ambitious near and medium-term steps to achieve that goal. A deal was also struck at the end of the COP27 summit on Sunday. Wealthy governments that attended sealed a pact to provide poorer countries with financial assistance using a 'loss and damage' mechanism. This will see countries paying billions to states hit by extreme weather and rising sea levels due to the effects of climate change. However, many attendees warned that the result of the conference is not a big enough step towards reducing emissions. 'The historic outcome on loss and damage at COP27 shows international cooperation is possible,' said Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and Chair of The Elders. 'Equally, the renewed commitment on the 1.5C global warming limit was a source of relief. 'However, none of this changes the fact that the world remains on the brink of climate catastrophe.' UN chief Antonio Guterres said the talks had 'taken an important step towards justice' with the loss and damage fund, but argued that 'our planet is still in the emergency room'. He said: 'We need to drastically reduce emissions now and this is an issue this COP did not address.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also warned that 'more must be done' and that 'there can be no time for complacency'. He said in a statement: 'Keeping the 1.5 degrees commitment alive is vital to the future of our planet.' However, some offered words of encouragement towards the agreement made on the loss and damage fund. Pakistan's climate minister Sherry Rehman said COP27 'responded to the voices of the vulnerable'. 'We have struggled for 30 years on this path, and today in Sharm el-Sheikh this journey has achieved its first positive milestone,' she said at the summit. The fund was adopted after almost two extra days of intensive negotiations. It marked the end of two weeks of discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and a closing statement covered the commitments attending nations had made. The 2.7F (1.5C) target is a result of the Paris Agreement, the global treaty on climate change negotiated in 2015. That is the level where low-lying islands believe their survival will be jeopardised. However, the world is heading for around 4.5F (2.5C) warming under current commitments and plans. There has been around 2.2F (1.2C) of warming so far, which has resulted in extreme weather events around the world, such as the recent flooding in Pakistan.