For five years, climate activists have touted the 2015 Paris Agreement as a milestone in the commitment made by almost all the countries of the world to limit climate change. For the next five years we will point to the recent Paris judgement against the French state for its failure to address the climate crisis. It is the first time that a court has held a country accountable for inaction to preserve the future for its citizens. The precedent has been set, and other judgements will follow. The first step has been taken, the first domino has fallen. Others will follow, but climate activists everywhere cannot rest. We must redouble our efforts to force governments and whole societies to take the often difficult political and life-style actions needed to end the use of fossil fuels. Greenhouse gas emissions from those fuels — coal, oil, and natural gas — are what drive the deterioration of the climate toward catastrophe. As concerned citizens we can celebrate today’s victory, but we must rededicate ourselves to continue our efforts to ensure a livable, hospitable planet that all may enjoy for generations to come.
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