Overview

• On May 28, 2025 the Higher Regional Court in Hamm dismissed Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s appeal, concluding his flood risk was not high enough to warrant further proceedings.
• Lliuya initially sued RWE in 2015, arguing the company’s CO₂ emissions accelerated Andean glacier melt and seeking $17,500 for a flood protection project.
• After a 2016 loss at the Essen Regional Court, the Hamm court accepted the case on appeal in 2017 and held hearings through March 2025.
• Attorney Roda Verheyen hailed the verdict as a landmark for recognizing that large emitters can face liability for climate-related harms.
• RWE warned that accepting liability could expose any greenhouse gas emitter to similar claims under German law.