A report commissioned by the municipality of Amsterdam and conducted by the law firm NautaDutilh reveals that the city may be legally obligated to better protect its citizens from climate change. Failure to do so could result in violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The report was initially kept confidential by the municipality, but its conclusions were leaked to De Telegraaf. The city's alderwoman for sustainability, Zita Pels, subsequently released the report, denying any attempt at secrecy. She attributed the delay to considering the implications for other municipalities and departments and stated the municipality filed a police report regarding the leak.
The report draws parallels to the Urgenda climate case, where the Dutch government was found liable for insufficient climate action. The report questions Amsterdam's accountability for greenhouse gas emissions, including those from suppliers outside its jurisdiction, and suggests the city lacks intermediate targets for emissions reduction.
NautaDutilh highlights that legal action against Amsterdam could lead to costly policy changes and reputational damage. While the city's legal department believes the likelihood of successful lawsuits is limited due to existing climate policies, the report underscores the need for Amsterdam to prioritize climate change mitigation.