May 30 2025 | Climate Litigation Case Study: Landmark Climate Ruling: Saul Lliuya v RWE

African Futures Lab analyzed the recent verdict in Saul Lliuya vs RWE, a major step forward in climate litigation and corporate accountability. The ruling sets a historic precedent by linking emissions from a German utility company to climate impacts in the Global South.

Who really won: David or Goliath?


After a decade-long legal battle between Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya and German energy giant RWE, the court delivered a mixed verdict. While damages were not awarded, the ruling marks a historic breakthrough: individual companies can now be held accountable for the impacts of climate change under German law.

Legal experts, climate scientists, and activists are calling it a landmark moment—a new precedent that puts polluters on notice.

Read below for a clear breakdown of the case that is reshaping the world of climate litigation.