As the world commemorates International Women’s Day 2025, a landmark judicial victory has reshaped the landscape of climate justice and gender equality. In a precedent-setting case, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz (Association of Climate Elders), a group of older Swiss women, won twice against their own government.

In 2020, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found that the Swiss government’s failure to confront climate change infringed basic human rights. Despite the ECHR verdict, the Swiss government remains non-compliant and attempted to overturn the decision—only to be overruled once more on 06 March 2025. This stunning victory sends a clear message: governments cannot avoid accountability for climate failure. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers has cautioned that Switzerland’s updated climate plans fall short of the 1.5°C Paris Agreement objective.

The Swiss Government has recently updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the 2015 Paris Agreement, committing to a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. However, environment groups in Switzerland, including Greenpeace have criticized the new targets for lacking ambition and failing to reflect the landmark ECHR judgment in favour of older women fighting for stronger climate action.

The latest reprieve by the Council of European Committee of Ministers should act as a wake-up warning to governments worldwide: climate justice is no longer a political option but a legal requirement. Failure to act will lead to lawsuits, legal defeats, and judicial requirements requiring compliance.

This momentous decision is strongly aligned with the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,” emphasising that justice, representation, and leadership must extend to women of all ages. It also dispels the myth that climate activism is solely the domain of the young. Older women are not passive victims of climate change; they are frontline defenders of the climate and environment.

Climate Change: A Human Rights Imperative

The case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland marks a watershed moment in climate litigation. The plaintiffs, a group of Swiss women aged 64 and older, showed immense courage in claiming that the government’s inactivity on climate change posed a direct threat to their health and well-being.

The legal argument was based on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), notably Article 8: The right to private and family life, which includes protection against environmental harm. The Swiss courts failed to recognise their legal standing, denying them the opportunity to access justice under Article 6.1. The ECHR firmly favoured the older women’s contention, noting that governments must protect individuals from climate-related suffering. The court elevated climate action to fundamental human rights, setting a strong precedent that will affect legal disputes well beyond Europe.

Ripple Effect:  Global climate litigation gains momentum.

The Swiss situation is not an isolated incident. It reflects a growing global trend in which courts step in to impose climate responsibilities. In March 2024, the Indian Supreme Court issued a similar decision in M.K. Ranjitsinh & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., proclaiming the right to be free from the ill consequences of climate change as fundamental under Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. 

Furthermore, small island nations have petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to recognise that climate inaction is a breach of international law. A decision in this matter is expected this month. Given the precedent set by the Swiss and Indian verdicts, it’s not wishful to expect that the ICJ may soon make climate responsibility an obligatory worldwide norm.

Older Women: From Marginal to Mainstream in Climate Action

The Swiss women’s success debunks a long-held stereotype that older people are just spectators in climate discussions, particularly older women. Instead, they have identified themselves as vital leaders, mobilisers, and change agents. Older people, especially older women have been under-represented in climate policy and talks for far too long. However, the KlimaSeniorinnen instance demonstrates that they are not merely stakeholders but decision-makers who demand and push policy change. Their win emphasises that climate action is an intergenerational struggle that cannot be achieved without older generations’ experience, knowledge, and resilience.

Beyond The Slogan: The Intergenerational Reality of Climate Change:

A recurring refrain in climate talk is, “Young people will inherit the planet.” Although this is accurate, it fails to acknowledge that older generations will continue to shape the planet’s future. By 2050, more than 2 billion people will be 60 or older, and climate change will be at its most severe. The Swiss example emphasises the need for older generations to act as caretakers, guiding young people towards a sustainable and decent future. Rather than a burden, older people have a wealth of knowledge, resilience, and lived experience—all of which are critical in dealing with the climate problem. Their inclusion is not an option but an Imperative.

A New Era of Climate Justice, Led By Older Women

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025, we must understand that climate justice is also a feminist issue. Women, particularly elderly women, suffer the brunt of climate change’s effects. However, they also lead the charge for accountability, justice, and action. The Swiss women’s victory is more than just a win for climate justice; it is a watershed moment for gender equality and human rights. Their unflinching dedication encourages women and girls worldwide to fight for their rights, seek justice, and construct a more sustainable future.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.

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