South Korean Court Hears Climate Change Case Against Government playstop

South Korea's Constitutional Court has begun hearing a case that accuses the government of failing to protect 200 people by not dealing¹ with climate change.

The case, which began Tuesday in Seoul, includes many young environmental activists² and children.

The people bringing the legal action, or the plaintiffs, said the case was Asia's first climate-related case. It includes four petitions by children and babies among others dating from 2020. There is also a petition from a fetus³ at the time the case was brought to court, nicknamed "Woodpecker."

Lee Jongseok said climate lawsuits⁴ are getting popular around the world and are gaining public interest. Lee is the president of the court, which is one of the highest in South Korea.

"The court recognizes the importance and public interest of this case and will make efforts to ensure that deliberations are conducted thoroughly," he said.

Earlier this month, Europe's human rights court ruled on another climate-related case. The court found the Swiss government had violated its citizens' rights by not doing enough to combat climate change. Courts in Australia, Brazil and Peru are also hearing similar cases.

The plaintiffs said in a statement that South Korea's climate plans are not enough to keep the world's average temperature increase within 1.5 degrees Celsius⁵ of "pre-industrial" levels. The government's failure violates "fundamental rights," the statement said.

Climate scientists say if the average world temperature rises more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, there will be results that cannot be changed. These scientists say large ice sheets will melt and ocean currents will stop.

Burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, results in carbon emissions⁷. These warm gases are being blamed for the warming of the land and sea. South Korea's economy depends on fossil fuels for growth. However, South Korea has sought to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

Government lawyers told the court that the government was doing everything possible to reduce carbon emissions and not violate the basic rights of its people. They added that the government did not discriminate⁸ against young people, and there could be changes to yearly goals on carbon reduction.

Several activists said the government's answer was disappointing.

A group of young people, including Woodpecker, who is now one year old, gathered outside the court. Some criticized what they called the government's inaction on climate change.

"Carbon emission⁶ reduction keeps getting pushed back as if it is homework that can be done later," said the baby's mother, Lee Donghyun. "But that burden will be what our children have to bear eventually."

The mother of one eight-year-old plaintiff said her children live in fear of the effects of climate change.

"Because there's a mountain behind our house, the kids say our house can get hit by a landslide⁹. And who knows? That can happen," she said.

Last year, South Korea lowered its 2030 targets for greenhouse gas reductions. But it kept its national goal of cutting emissions by 40 percent of 2018 levels, calling the move a reasonable change.

Words in This Story

petition — n. a request that is signed by citizens who are asking that the government take action on an issue

deliberation — n. careful and thoughtful consideration

thorough — adj. complete

fundamental — n. something that serves as the basis for other things

emissions — n.(pl.) gases released by a process

carbon neutral — adj. neither adding nor taking away carbon

burden — v. a heavy weight or responsibility

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fetus   

n.胎，胎儿

参考例句：

• In the fetus,blood cells are formed in different sites at different ages.胎儿的血细胞在不同时期生成在不同的部位。
• No one knows why a fetus is not automatically rejected by the mother's immune system. 没有人知道为什么母亲的免疫系统不会自动排斥胎儿。

4 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

5 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

6 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

8 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

9 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。