Zum Locus Standi von NGOs in KlimaSeniorinnen: Hoffnung auf effektiven Menschenrechtsschutz in der Klimakrise?

In KlimaSeniorinnen, the European Court of Human Rights opened up access to the Strasbourg Court by allowing for complaints brought by NGOs alleging a violation of human rights resulting from lacking efforts in the field of climate protection. This article presents and critically assesses the Courts' reasoning on this point. Whilst the judgement leaves some questions unanswered, the overall tendency is convincing in light of the living instrument doctrine and the principle of effective protection of human rights. Further arguments for the position advanced by the Court are based on the Aarhus Convention and its domestic effects as well as the general role of NGOs within the Convention system.