German farmer sues Volkswagen over climate crisis
The farmer is urging VW to end production of combustion engine vehicles by 2030
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A German court has begun hearing a case brought against Volkswagen by a farmer who claims the carmaker is partly responsible for the impact that global warming is having on his family business.
“Farmers are already being hit harder and faster by climate change than expected,” the plaintiff, Ulf Allhoff-Cramer, told reporters ahead of the hearing before a regional court in the western town of Detmold.
Greenpeace, which has backed several legal cases in Germany aimed at holding companies and governments accountable for climate change, is supporting Mr Allhoff-Cramer in his claim.
Such cases have met with mixed success: some have been dismissed, while one made it to Germany’s top court, which last year ordered the government to step up its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the latest case, Mr Allhoff-Cramer is calling for VW – the world’s second-biggest car manufacturer based on sales – to end production of combustion engine vehicles by 2030.
German carmakers rejected a similar demand from environmental groups last year.
Volkswagen said in a statement that it aims to reduce its emissions “as quickly as the business allows” but has set itself a 2050 deadline to cut carbon dioxide emissions to net zero.
“Volkswagen stands for climate protection and rapid decarbonisation of the transport sector, but cannot meet this challenge alone,” the company said, adding that the transformation also depends on government regulation, technological development and buyer behaviour.
The company said lawmakers should decide on climate emergency measures.
“Disputes in civil courts through lawsuits against individual companies singled out for this purpose, on the other hand, are not the place or the means to do justice to this responsible task,” VW said. “We will defend this position and ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed.”
In 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency caught Volkswagen using software that let diesel cars pass emissions tests and then turned off pollution controls during normal driving.
The company apologised and paid tens of billions of dollars in fines, recall costs and compensation to car owners.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments