Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe is the location of the Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), the German Federal Court of Justice. Recent news focuses on climate lawsuits brought by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), a German environmental association, against automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz. These lawsuits aimed to prohibit the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by the manufacturers after November 2030, arguing that their continued production contributes excessively to CO₂ emissions and infringes on future freedoms by limiting the political scope for CO₂ reduction. The DUH's argument was based on a previous climate protection ruling. However, the BGH in Karlsruhe dismissed the lawsuits, siding with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. This decision follows similar rejections in lower courts in Munich and Stuttgart. The case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the transition to electric vehicles and the legal challenges faced by environmental groups seeking to accelerate the phasing out of combustion engines.