futureproofed.com Klimaatzaak Serge de Gheldere Denis Philippe THE CLIMATE PROJECT Climate ambassador for Al Gore

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1 Klimaatzaak Serge de Gheldere Denis Philippe THE CLIMATE PROJECT Climate ambassador for Al Gore futureproofed.com Futureproofed FutureproofedCities Your climate action plan in one easy-to-use online tool.

2 Must we change?

3 TEXT TEXT TEXT Can we change?

4 Megawatts (Cumulative) World Solar PV Installations $ Cost per Watt (Inflation Adjusted) 80 US$ 64 US$ 48 US$ 32 US$ 16 US$ 1976 $79.40/watt Cost of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells 2014 $0.69/watt 0 US$ Data: Earth Policy Institute/BP, Statistical Review of World Energy June 2014 (London: 2014). Data: Bloomberg New Energy Finance 1.8 million houses Row houses from /month energy invoice 10 days > energy positive budget neutral for resident jobs Deal stroomversnelling Netherlands 120 kwh/m 2 *year Insulation, windows, energy efficient equipment, ventilation, heatpump, solar 10 days/home Budget neutral 0 kwh/m 2 *year

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6 Will we change? (in time)

7 In the 2015 Agreement, virtually every nation in the world agreed to work together to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions. 195 countries agreed in : < 2 C by 2100 ambition: 1.5 C SevArt/Pond5 Belgian Federal roadmap (2013) Required reduction: 45% by % by 2050 re. to 1990, industrialized countries 2016 Ed Hawkins/ Climate Lab Book/cc by sa 3.0 Belgium needs to drastically increase its yearly GHG reduction pace in order to be in line with 2050 European objectives Belgian GHG emissions, MtCO 2 e per year % p.a % p.a % to -95% 1990 Source: Belgium GHG emissions inventory, Climact 2010 Range of 2050 objectives 9

8 This analysis demonstrates that a low carbon economy can lead to a reduction of total system costs because additional investment costs will be compensated by lower fuel costs. Belgian Federal roadmap (2013) 5300 bn $ Cost of fossil fuel subsidies in 2015

9 5300 bn $ Cost of fossil fuel subsidies in 2015 Greater than the total health spending of all the world s governments ROGER COX

10 co-plaintiffs Reduction routes Overspending on carbon budget and net negative emissions A A Yearly emissions Fixed yearly reduction percentage Fixed yearly reduction quantity Delayed reduction B Emissions per year Carbon budget Budget trespass B Net negative emissions C

11 Our ask Some national objectives 2020 go well beyond EU objectives 40% reduction with minimum 25 % by 2020 (re: 1990) 55% reduction with minimum 40 % by 2030 Germany -40% Denmark -40% UK -35% Sweden -40% Historic win in the Netherlands 24 June 2015 The Dutch court considered that the nature and extent of the damage ensuing from climate change, the knowledge and foreseeability of this damage, and the chance that hazardous climate change will occur are such that the Dutch government has a serious duty of care to take measures to prevent it.

12 According to the court it is an established fact that the Dutch government has the constitutional power to control the collective Dutch emissions level and that it indeed controls it. By signing the UN climate treaty, the State once again expressly accepted its responsibility for the national emission level and in this context accepted the obligation to reduce emissions as much as needed to prevent dangerous climate change. The court found that the State should not hide behind the argument that the solution to the global climate problem does not depend solely on Dutch efforts. In the words of the court: Dutch per capita emissions are one of the highest in the world and any reduction of emissions contributes to the prevention of dangerous climate change. The Dutch court explained that it had not entered the political domain for it is the judiciary s duty to provide legal protection to citizens against acts or omissions of the government that pose a realistic and grave threat. The Dutch decision marks the first time human rights were used as a legal basis to protect citizens against climate change. "That the court, on the basis of powers, rules and principles decided by the parliament, incites the government to achieve certain policy objectives, without specifying how to do it or to replace the executive and representative power, is a great day for democracy anchored in the rule of law." Carl Devos - political scientist Language issue

13 VAN DE Na 8 maanden opgelopen vertraging kondigt het Vlaams Gewest nu aan naar het hoogste rechterlijke orgaan (Hof VanCASSATIE Cassatie) te zullen HOF VAN trekken met de vraag om het vonnis van de arrondissementsrechtbank te vernietigen. Zodoende zal de procedure nodeloos lang gerokken worden en langs beide kanten een pak meer geld gaan kosten. TUSSENINCIDENT TUSSENINCIDENT Vlaams Gewest vraagt wijziging taal Vlaams Gewest vraagt wijziging taal Vlaams Gewest stelt beroep in Vlaams Gewest stelt beroep in Franstalige rechtbank eerste aanleg: Vonnis: Klimaatzaak heeft procedure correct opgestart en de taalwetgeving gerespecteerd Franstalige rechtbank eerste aanleg: Vonnis: Klimaatzaak heeft procedure correct opgestart en de taalwetgeving gerespecteerd Arrondissementsrechtbank: Vonnis: Klimaatzaak heeft procedure correct opgestart en de taalwetgeving gerespecteerd Vlaams Gewest kondigt aan beroep aan te tekenen bij het Hof van Cassatie HOF VAN CASSATIE Vlaams Gewest Ofwel Vernietiging cassatieberoep en vonnis blijft overeind Waals Gewest Ofwel Vernietiging cassatieberoep en vonnis blijft overeind OFWEL VERLOOP OFWEL HET Ofwel Vernietiging vonnis Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Federale regering Kick-off! Ingebrekestelling Meeting met de tegenpartij Conclusiekalender / -rondes Dagvaarding Dagvaarding Conclusiekalender / -rondes +/ maanden Uitwisseling van geschreven argumenten voorstelling klimaatzaak aan pers en publiek ingebrekestelling: 4 brieven naar de bevoegde ministers Januari februari 4 ministers antwoorden per brief Klimaatzaak en ministers zitten samen aan tafel: de antwoorden van de ministers zijn onvoldoende Deurwaarder overhandigt dagvaarding aan de 4 ministers; Inleidende Zitting Klimaatzaak en ministers zitten samen antwoorden van de zijn onvoldoende Rechtbank +/ maanden Uitwisseling van geschreven argumenten Deurwaarder overhandigt dagvaarding aan de 4 ministers; Vonnis 1-3 maanden Datum nog onbekend Rechter luistert naar de mondelinge verdediging van partijen. Mede-eisers mogen hierbij aanwezig zijn. De rechtbank neemt de zaak in beraad Inleidende Zitting 1 à 3 maanden na het pleiten Rechtbank spreekt zich uit; After the final no, there is a yes. And on that yes, the future world depends. Wallace Stevens 1. Context - WILL TO INTRODUCE THE SAME ACTION IN BELGIUM - JUDICIAL POWER : THIRD POWER Bruxelles Londres Denis PHILIPPE Senior Partner Brussels & Bar Professor at the University of Louvain & dphilippe@philippelaw.eu NETHERLANDS PROCEDURE IN BELGIUM - 72 Bruxelles

14 Bruxelles 2. Action 3. On the merits - No class action - Action against the State and the three regions - Within approx. two years - Basis - Every citizen can be associated to this action - Tort law ( bonus pater familias) - Precautionary principle - Human rights Bruxelles 3. In which language? - French because Walloon Region lies in Brussels - Opposition of the Flemish region - First instance: rejected - Appeal : rejected - Flemish region now in cassation 75 Bruxelles 76 Bruxelles Thank you for your attention! Bruxelles / Brussels Chaussée de La Hulpe 181/9 Terhulpsesteenweg 181/9 B Bruxelles/Brussel T : F : Boulevard d Avroy 280 B T : F : London 59A Star Street London Great Britain W2 1QQ T : Boulevard Grande-Duchesse Charlotte 30 L T : F : Avenue du 152 Fine Art in Legal Practice 77 Bruxelles B Jambes T : F : Rue Notre-Dame Débonnaire 16 Rue de Monceau 61 F T : F : B 7000 T : F : Bruxelles