Maintenance of limits - Judgment expected for environmental lawsuit against the Federal Government
In dispute over the environmental and climate policy of the Federal Government, the Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenburg will announce its judgment today at 11:30 am in a further lawsuit by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) (Az.: OVG 11 A 16/20).
Specifically, it concerns the so-called National Air Pollution Program (NLRP). This program, which was adopted in 2019 and is to be updated in May 2024, contains numerous measures with which Germany intends to achieve the European targets for reducing emissions of air pollutants. This includes Ammonia, fine dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. In contrast, the Environmental Aid assumes that the measures are not sufficient to meet the EU's reduction targets and demands improvements.
Only in mid-May, the Administrative Court had decided that the Federal Government must review its climate protection program. The previously listed measures were not sufficient to achieve the climate targets, ruled the judges and thus granted two lawsuits by the DUH.
- Despite the upcoming judgment from the Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenburg at 11:30 am, the Federal Government is still in dispute over its climate and environmental policy, as challenged by German Environment Aid e.V. (DUH).
- The ongoing lawsuit revolves around the National Air Pollution Program (NLRP), adopted in 2019, which Germany aims to update in May 2024, with several measures to meet EU reduction targets for air pollutants such as Ammonia, fine dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.
- Contrary to the Federal Government's belief, German Environmental Aid argues that the measures in the NLRP are insufficient to meet EU reduction targets and has taken the case to court, seeking improvements.
- Recently, the Administrative Court Berlin-Brandenburg ruled that the Federal Government must review its climate protection program, as the previous measures were deemed inadequate to meet the climate targets, granting two lawsuits filed by German Environment Aid e.V. This sets a precedent for the current case, further limiting the government's room for maneuver in climate politics.
