In a significant decision on Wednesday, a court mandated the Dutch government to create a strategy safeguarding the inhabitants of Bonaire, a small Caribbean island, from the severe impacts of climate change. The ruling by The Hague District Court criticized Dutch authorities for failing to implement timely and adequate measures to shield the 20,000 island residents from the consequences of climate change.
Judge Jerzy Luiten highlighted the current challenges faced by the island, such as flooding from tropical storms and extreme rainfall, which are projected to worsen in the upcoming years. The court granted the Netherlands 18 months to establish a binding plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in accordance with international agreements.
The lawsuit, initiated by eight Bonaire residents and supported by Greenpeace, aimed to compel the government to better protect its citizens from the effects of climate change, setting a potential precedent for similar legal actions globally. Jackie Bernabela, one of the residents and plaintiffs, expressed her satisfaction with the court’s decision, emphasizing the importance of equality for the island’s inhabitants.
The ruling did not receive an immediate response from the government, which retains the option to appeal the verdict. Greenpeace Netherlands director Marieke Vellekoop lauded the potential impact of the court’s decision in urging concrete actions to safeguard people from extreme weather events and other climate-related consequences.
The case was heard in The Hague due to Bonaire’s status as a Dutch municipality since 2010, alongside St. Eustatius and Saba. The island’s residents, totaling 20,000 individuals, hold Dutch citizenship based on historical ties to the Netherlands.
During the legal proceedings, government lawyers argued that the Netherlands was already taking steps to address climate change, citing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation initiatives. However, the court deemed these efforts insufficient, noting that the target to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 lacked enforceability and did not fully encompass emissions from air and sea transport. Additionally, the court cast doubt on the Netherlands’ ability to achieve its emissions reduction goal by 2030.