This child brought South Korea into Asia's first climate lawsuit

This child brought South Korea into Asia’s first climate lawsuit

For the first time in its history, a court in South Korea will hear the case of some children against the government "failing" to address climate change. Among them there is also a one and a half year old baby

@YouTube

Dubbed “Woodpecker” due to his prenatal kicking when his parents first decided to take the South Korean government to court over insufficient climate actions, “Picchio” wasn’t even born when his parents and those of over 61 other children under five years old filed a lawsuit on their behalf. This case, now known as Woodpecker vs. South Korea, was combined with three similar cases filed between 2020 and 2023, with the first hearing held at the South Korean Constitutional Court last month. Today, May 21, marks the second and final hearing.

The significance of the case

This case is one of the first major climate-related cases to reach a high court in Asia. Plaintiffs argue that the South Korean government is not doing enough to curb greenhouse gas emissions, explains Jiyoun Yoo, a climate justice activist from Amnesty International Korea. Approximately 200 South Koreans have joined this cause, claiming that the government’s proclaimed climate goals are far too lenient.

South Korea’s climate commitments

Under its current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to honor the United Nations’ Paris Agreement, the government aims to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2018 levels by 2030. The Paris Agreement seeks to limit global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels, with a maximum increase of 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if all countries maintained the ambition level of South Korea, global temperatures could rise by 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit by the century’s end, according to the Climate Action Tracker.

Plaintiffs’ arguments

Today, the plaintiffs maintain that the government fails to ensure the constitutionally required protection of their fundamental rights. These include the right to life, the right to pursue happiness, general freedom, property rights, and the right to a healthy environment. They also argue that the state fails to fulfill its duty to protect the population from disasters.

The broader implications

“The climate crisis is already at our doorstep, but its effects will be felt even more intensely by future generations,” says Jiyoun Yoo. Cases like this are crucial for safeguarding the rights of citizens. Legal action against a state is often a long and challenging process that requires patience, perseverance, and the courage of these pioneering plaintiffs must be admired and applauded.

Looking ahead

With countries set to update their NDCs next year, climate activists hope this case will compel South Korea to adopt more ambitious climate plans for the period up to 2035.

A parallel in Europe

Meanwhile, in Europe, a historic ruling by the European Court of Human Rights last month favored KlimaSeniorinnen (Swiss Seniors for Climate Protection), a group of 2,000 Swiss women who won a groundbreaking lawsuit.

Everyday items: not as clean as you might think

We always have it in our hands, yet we never clean it: we are talking about the remote control, a real receptacle for germs and dirt

@Canva

We rarely consider it, but every day we handle dozens of objects that are not as clean as we might imagine.

This concern isn’t just about money, shopping carts, or train station handrails—items touched by countless people every day, which are obviously teeming with germs and grime.

Even items we keep at home and use personally can become reservoirs of dust, dirt, and germs, increasing our risk of developing diseases such as allergies or asthma.

One such item is the TV remote control, an object that you might have never cleaned since you brought it home with your new television.

Try wiping a dry cloth between the buttons of the remote; you’ll immediately notice the huge amount of dust and dirt that has accumulated over the years, enough to change the color of the rubber buttons.

But it’s not just the dust that’s a concern: bacterial colonies can cling to the surface of the remote and multiply, increasing the risk of illness.

How is this possible? Every day we grab the remote with dirty and sweaty hands, depositing dead skin cells, food remnants, dirt, and germs.

If we also live with a dog or cat, we must consider the presence of pet hair or other organic residues brought by our pet onto our hands or directly onto the surface of the remote.

In short, the remote control is a very dirty object that, to avoid becoming a threat to our health, should be cleaned often and thoroughly.

How to clean your remote control effectively

Cleaning our remote control effectively, ensuring it is free from germs, is quite simple. You will need:

A cotton cloth
Denatured alcohol
A lint-free cloth
A toothpick

Start by removing the batteries from the remote—a necessary step to prevent short circuits and damage to the device.

Then, take a cotton cloth and moisten it with denatured alcohol. Be careful not to use too much alcohol, as it could damage the remote.

Now clean the entire surface of the remote, paying special attention to the buttons and any encrusted areas.

You can also use a toothpick to remove trapped dirt from the buttons, moistening its tip with alcohol if necessary.

Once satisfied with your cleaning, dry the remote with a lint-free cloth, ensuring every trace of dirt and alcohol is removed. Reinsert the batteries and turn on the remote to ensure it works properly.

This cleaning should be performed at least once a week to prevent the remote from becoming a repository of dust and dirt.

The article draws upon studies published and recommendations from international institutions and/or experts. We do not make claims in the medical-scientific field and report the facts as they are. Sources are indicated at the end of each article.