@ 2024 Advocate Channel.
All Rights reserved

Greta Thunberg and 600 Youth File Lawsuit Against Swedish Government for Climate Change Inaction

Greta Thunberg speaks into a microphone
Shutterstock

Thunberg Tweeted: “Today on Black Friday is the perfect day to sue the state over its insufficient climate policies. So that’s what we did. See you in court!”

Over 600 young people in Sweden have filed a lawsuit against the country's government over its insufficient response to climate change.


The 87-page petition was signed by more than 600 people under the age of 26, claiming the government's inadequate environmental and climate policies violate human rights.

Youth-led initiative Aurora filed the lawsuit, with spokesman Anton Foley saying via The Associated Press: “Sweden has never treated the climate crisis like a crisis. Sweden is failing in its responsibility and breaking the law.”

On Friday, hundreds of youth activists marched through Stockholm, the Swedish capital, to present their suit. Among the protestors was climate activist Greta Thunberg, who Tweeted that day: “Today on Black Friday is the perfect day to sue the state over its insufficient climate policies. So that’s what we did. See you in court!”

Thunberg's actions follow her recent criticisms of world governments who attended UN climate conference COP27. She referred to the summit as ineffective, as they “are not really meant to change the whole system."

“We’re, right now, in a very desperate position, and many people are becoming desperate and are trying to find new methods because we realize that what we’ve been doing up until now has not done the trick," Thunberg said at the time. “As it is now, the COPs are not really going to lead to any major changes, unless of course, we use them as an opportunity to mobilize."

Thunberg also criticized world governments for failing to meet the standards of the Paris Climate Accords, which would limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Experts say countries are still "nowhere near" reducing emissions enough to sufficiently combat climate change.

Ida Edling, also of Aurora, told Aljazeerathat their organization's lawsuit would ensure Sweden's new conservative government be held to the standards of the Accords.

“If we win, there will be a verdict that says the Swedish state is required to do its share of the global measures needed for the world to meet the 1.5-degree target," she said. “There has never been such a large-scale case in the Swedish legal system."

Moa Widmark, a 19-year-old student who attended the Friday rally, addedthat it was critical for youth to take action.

“The climate crisis is worrying and scary," Widmark shared. "We’re headed for a catastrophe.”

From our sponsors

From our partners

Top Stories

Ryan Adamczeski

Digital Director

Ryan is the Digital Director of The Advocate Channel, and a graduate of New York University Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing, with a focus in television writing and comedy. She is also a member of GALECA, the LGBTQ+ society of entertainment critics.

Ryan is the Digital Director of The Advocate Channel, and a graduate of New York University Tisch's Department of Dramatic Writing, with a focus in television writing and comedy. She is also a member of GALECA, the LGBTQ+ society of entertainment critics.