Greta Thunberg and youth group Aurora have filed a revised lawsuit claiming Sweden is failing to protect children and young people from worsening climate harms. The suit demands faster emissions cuts to align with 1.5°C goals, stronger legal protections for ecosystems, and inclusion of omitted emissions such as those from imported biomass. The action follows a February dismissal by Sweden's Supreme Court and leans on a 2024 European Court of Human Rights ruling supporting climate-related rights claims.
Greta Thunberg and Youth Group Aurora Sue Sweden Again, Saying Government Fails to Protect Children From Climate Harm
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Greta Thunberg and the Swedish youth climate organisation Aurora have filed a revised lawsuit arguing the Swedish government is not doing enough to protect children and young people from escalating climate harms. The action, publicised on social media, was confirmed by Thunberg on Sept. 22.
What the Case Seeks
The legal challenge centers on three core demands:
- Faster, stronger emissions cuts aligned with keeping warming to about 1.5°C (roughly 2.7°F).
- Better legal protection for ecosystems such as forests that store carbon and buffer communities from climate impacts.
- Accurate accounting of emissions—including sources Aurora says are omitted from official figures, notably emissions from burning imported biomass.
Background And Legal Context
The move follows an earlier case dismissed in February, when Sweden’s Supreme Court said it could not order the government to take specific climate actions. The court noted, however, that a differently structured claim might stand a better chance. Activists now point to a 2024 European Court of Human Rights ruling that recognised citizens can bring climate cases against states when climate breakdown threatens their private and family life.
Why It Matters
Aurora argues that even though Sweden has reduced planet-warming emissions faster than the EU average, it remains off course to meet its own 2045 net-zero target. Campaigners warn that slower action on emissions, air pollution and ecosystem protection raises risks for communities through extreme weather, strain on public-health services, and damage to forests and other natural defenses.
Public Campaign And Funding
The challenge has been promoted on social media (Novara Media shared the news on Instagram) and has attracted public support. Campaigners have raised more than £180,000 (about $238,000) to fund the forthcoming lawsuit. Aurora said in its fundraiser:
"A safe and just world is still possible, but only if rich, high-emitting states like Sweden stop violating their duty to protect people from the devastation of the climate crisis, and start transforming their societies before 2030."
Wider Wave Of Climate Litigation
Aurora’s case is part of a broader trend: climate litigation across Europe has forced governments in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland to strengthen environmental measures. The group's strategy focuses on clear, enforceable steps: increased emissions cuts, proper accounting of all emission sources, and stronger protections for natural systems that absorb carbon and support biodiversity.
What Happens Next: The court will now consider whether the reworked legal arguments meet the threshold that Sweden’s Supreme Court indicated might succeed. Meanwhile, campaigners continue to build public support and funding for the legal fight.
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