A legal challenge by an Irish non-governmental organisation is the latest addition to a global surge in litigation aimed at putting pressure on governments and major corporations over their policies to combat climate change. Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) said today that it had been given leave by the High Court for its case arguing that the Dublin government has breached its duties under legislation designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The decision follows a landmark judicial ruling in the US state of Montana and comes in the run-up to a hearing in the European Court of Human rights in a case brought by Portuguese children against 33 national governments. Campaigners say such strategic litigation is an important weapon in promoting the climate change issue. ‘Nothing has been as effective as litigation in communicating science and responsibility,' said Joana Setzer, assistant professor at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment, London School of Economics. ‘Nothing has been as effective in story-telling as litigation. It is important for the whole climate movement.’

An Irish community law centre, the Centre for Environmental Justice at Community Law & Mediation, is representing the FIE in the Dublin case. Rose Wall, solicitor and chief executive of the centre, said: 'We are doing this because climate change impacts a wide range of human rights, including the right to life, food, water, sanitation, health, and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Environmental justice is about empowerment of communities and ensuring oversight and accountability in climate and environmental action.'

Given Ireland’s 'poor performance on emissions reductions to date' Wall said, 'we have a right to know if and how [the government's action plan] will deliver the required emissions reductions.' The case is listed again for 6th November.

In last month's Montana ruling, a state court judge ruled that continued development of fossil fuels violates a clause in Montana's state constitution that guarantees its citizens the right to a 'clean and healthful environment'. The ruling is likely to be appealed. The Strasbourg case Duarte Agostinho and Ors v. Portugal and 32 Ors will be heard by the Grand Chamber of the ECtHR on 27 September.