On a landmark day, on 9 April the European Court of Human Rights delivered its first ever judgments on climate change cases.

On an application brought by an association of older Swiss women, the Grand Chamber of the Court found that the European Convention on Human Rights encompasses a right for individuals to effective protection by State authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change. The Grand Chamber held that Switzerland, which had critical gaps in its regulatory framework and had failed to meet its past emission reduction targets, had violated the Convention.

An application brought by six Portuguese youths against 33 European countries was, however, declared inadmissible, on the basis that the applicants were only within the jurisdiction of Portugal and had not exhausted domestic remedies there.

An application brought by a French former mayor was also declared inadmissible on the basis that he no longer had relevant links to the municipality.

Richard Reynolds was part of the team of barristers representing the Portuguese youths.

The Grand Chamber's judgments have received significant press attention worldwide, including in the UK and Australia.