We empower civil society worldwide to take legal action against the destruction of the environment and human rights violations by German actors – in Germany and the EU. This turns the law into a tool for justice across borders.
Affected communities can step up their resistance to the destruction of the environment and human rights violations by German actors through legal means in Germany and the EU.
In cooperation with Fridays for Future Deutschland (FFF), we are building the Green Legal Helpdesk to counteract environmental destruction and human rights violations by German actors abroad. The Green Legal Helpdesk supports affected communities and organizations in holding those responsible for global environmental destruction accountable and exposing German involvement in it. The aim is to establish precedents that raise awareness of the global impact of German economic activities and lead to systemic change. The Helpdesk will combine legal interventions with high-profile campaigns to put pressure on political decision-makers and companies. Together with our partners and those affected, we are committed to innovative, cross-border solutions that promote environmental justice and ensure truly sustainable development.
The helpdesk is intended to be a point of contact for activists, lawyers, and NGOs who are working to combat the destruction of the environment in their home countries and want to hold German actors accountable, not least by legal means.
In a pilot case, GLI, working with the Serbian campaign network „Mars sa Drine“ filed an objection with the European Commission against the classification of the lithium mine in Jadar, Serbia, as a “strategic project” under the European Critical Raw Materials Act. The project run by the international mining company Rio Tinto threatens important drinking water resources with its planned lithium and boron extraction and risks destroying biodiversity and the livelihoods of people in the region. The EU, and the German automotive industry in particular, are trying to secure access to this coveted raw material. The statement submitted on November 28, 2024, shows that the project does not meet the requirements of the Raw Materials Regulation and calls on the Commission to reject the application for recognition as a “strategic project” under Articles 6-7 CRMA. This intervention underscores the need for responsible raw materials extraction that respects environmental and human rights. The “green transition” in the EU should solve environmental crises, not fuel new them.
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