Lawyer sues Costa Rican government for excluding climate variable in environmental impact assessments

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Volcano lago arenal costa rica

 

In December 2024, a Costa Rican lawyer filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Justice arguing that the Executive Branch and the National Environmental Technical Secretariat (SETENA) failed to include the assessment of climate impacts in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures.

 

The plaintiff argues, among other things, that the failure to assess climate variables violates the right of present and future generations to a safe climate within the framework of the right to a healthy and ecologically balanced environment.

 

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court admitted the appeal and ordered the Minister of the Presidency, the Minister of Environment and Energy, and the Secretary General of SETENA to submit reports on the reported events.

 

The case is ongoing and, if it has a favorable ruling, Costa Rica could join the list of Latin American countries that consider climate impacts for the approval of projects that require EIA.

 

More information here

 

Tema
Environmental impact studies
Intergenerational justice