Dutch government ordered to protect Bonaire residents from climate change

A Hague court ordered the Dutch government to produce a plan to protect residents of Bonaire from climate impacts and found the government had not taken timely measures. The court also required binding greenhouse gas emissions targets to be set in law within 18 months.

A court in The Hague on Wednesday ordered the Dutch government to draw up a plan to protect residents of the Caribbean island of Bonaire from the effects of climate change. The court ruled the government had discriminated against the island's roughly 20,000 inhabitants by failing to take timely and appropriate measures. Judges said the island already faces flooding from tropical storms and heavy rainfall and that those risks are expected to worsen. The ruling also requires legally binding greenhouse gas targets to be set within 18 months. Key details: - The Hague District Court ordered the government to prepare a plan to protect Bonaire residents from climate impacts. - The court found the government had discriminated by not taking timely measures for the island's population of about 20,000. - Judges said flooding and sea-level related risks are already affecting the island and could worsen in coming years, with parts of the island reported at risk by mid-century. - The court ordered binding emissions targets to be enacted in law within 18 months, aligned with international commitments. - The government can appeal the decision and officials said they will study the court's written ruling. Summary: The ruling requires the Dutch government to set legal measures and deadlines to protect Bonaire and to adopt binding emissions targets. The case was brought by island residents with support from an environmental group and could influence future adaptation cases. The government can appeal the decision and has said it will review the court's 90-page judgment.