German farmer sues Volkswagen over climate crisis
The farmer is urging VW to end production of combustion engine vehicles by 2030 Ulf Allhoff-Cramer holds VW partly responsible for damage to his farm A German court has begun hearing a case brought against Volkswagen by a farmer who claims the carmaker is partly responsible for the impact that global warming is having on his family business. Farmers are already being hit harder and faster by climate change than expected, the plaintiff, Ulf Allhoff-Cramer, told reporters ahead of the hearing before a regional court in the western town of Detmold. Greenpeace, which has backed several legal cases in Germany aimed at holding companies and governments accountable for climate change, is supporting Mr Allhoff-Cramer in his claim. Such cases have met with mixed success: some have been dismissed, while one made it to Germanys top court, which last year ordered the government to step up its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the latest case, Mr Allhoff-Cramer is calling for VW the worlds second-biggest car manufacturer based on sales to end production of combustion engine vehicles by 2030. Allhoff-Cramer sits in a pasture next to one of his cows in Detmold, Germany German carmakers rejected a similar demand from environmental groups last year. Volkswagen said in a statement that it aims to reduce its emissions as quickly as the business allows but has set itself a 2050 deadline to cut carbon dioxide emissions to net zero. Volkswagen stands for climate protection and rapid decarbonisation of the transport sector, but cannot meet this challenge alone, the company said, adding that the transformation also depends on government regulation, technological development and buyer behaviour. The company said lawmakers should decide on climate emergency measures. Cars ready for handing over inside one of in total two car towers at the Volkswagen car factory in Wolfsburg, Germany Disputes in civil courts through lawsuits against individual companies singled out for this purpose, on the other hand, are not the place or the means to do justice to this responsible task, VW said. We will defend this position and ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed. In 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency caught Volkswagen using software that let diesel cars pass emissions tests and then turned off pollution controls during normal driving. The company apologised and paid tens of billions of dollars in fines, recall costs and compensation to car owners. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Allhoff-Cramer sits in a pasture next to one of his cows in Detmold, Germany AP Cars ready for handing over inside one of in total two car towers at the Volkswagen car factory in Wolfsburg, Germany AP Ulf Allhoff-Cramer holds VW partly responsible for damage to his farm AP Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Log in New to The Independent? Or if you would prefer: Want an ad-free experience? Hi {{indy.fullName}}