A Dutch court, The Hague District Court, ordered the government to protect Bonaire residents from climate harms and to set binding emissions-reduction targets within 18 months, citing the island’s risk of becoming underwater by 2050 and ongoing flood issues from storms and heavy rainfall.

The case, brought by Bonaire residents with Greenpeace’s support, is among the first to apply European and UN climate obligations at the national level to a territorial community.

Context shows Bonaire, along with St. Eustatius and Saba, became special Dutch municipalities in 2010, and the ruling follows a lineage of climate litigation influenced by the Urgenda case.

Advocates argued that birthplace should not determine protection against floods, storms, and heatwaves, underscoring a universal right to climate adaptation protections.

The court partially aligned with climate jurisprudence, referencing the 2023 ICJ advisory opinion on state responsibility for climate harms while rejecting a demand for zero CO2 emissions by 2040.

Global context notes rising sea levels and warming since preindustrial times, with recent data showing about a 1.3°C increase and sea levels up roughly 4.3 cm since 1993.

The case highlights how small Caribbean islands face heightened vulnerability from climate change due to geography, size, and economic dependence on tourism and imports, including heat, floods, and coral reef loss.

The ruling reflects a broader trend of courts holding states accountable for protecting vulnerable regions and addressing polluters’ responsibilities for climate damages.

Climate Minister Sophie Hermans said the government would review the ruling, noting that the decision could be appealed but the measures must be implemented in the interim.

Although the court rejected a demand for tougher national targets, it ordered stronger measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate adaptation efforts.

Contextual background emphasizes ongoing sea-level rise and warming trends underpinning concerns about Bonaire’s vulnerability through 2050 and beyond.