Mass Claims An international journal with a European focus 2025 nr. 1

Does the Aarhus Convention Require an Association Action to Protect the Environment in German Private Law?

Axel Halfmeier and Malte Schlichting1

This paper examines the lack of legal standing for associations in environmental cases under German private law. Environmental claims by associations are limited to public law, while association actions in consumer law are often ineffective with regard to environmental violations. This contradicts Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention, which mandates public access to environmental justice. The paper advocates for legal reforms to align German law with international obligations. In this context, current developments such as the European Commission's proposal on plastic pellet loss and the European Court of Human Rights' decision in the KlimaSeniorinnen case must also be kept in mind.

1. Introduction

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention)2 was described by former United Nations Secretary-...

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Verder in dit artikel:

1. Introduction

2. Requirements of the Aarhus Convention

2.1. A brief overview of the Aarhus Convention

2.2. The meaning of Article 9(3) of the Aarhus Convention

2.3. Content requirements for implementation

3. Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Germany to date

3.1. Standing for individuals

3.2. Standing for associations

3.3. Interim result: Implementation deficit

3.4. Legal policy proposals

3.5. Actio popularis

3.6. Association actions

3.7. Proposal by Hopt and Baetge

3.8. Proposal for compensation for ecological damage

3.9. Our proposal: Extension of the existing UmwRG

4. New impulses from European law and the European Court of Human Rights

4.1. Commission proposal for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet loss

4.2. The European Court of Human Rights and the 'KlimaSeniorinnen'

5. Conclusion

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Artikel informatie

Type
Artikel
Auteurs
Axel Halfmeier and Malte Schlichting1
Auteursvermelding
Ik ben auteur van dit artikel
Datum artikel
Uniek Den Hollander publicatienummer
UDH:MC/18723

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