Climate Suit Against the Dutch State

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, November 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Announcement at book release of Revolution Justified

Today climate proceedings against the Dutch state have been announced, claiming that the Netherlands is under a legal obligation to reduce its CO₂ emissions by as much as 40% by 2020 and up to 95% by 2050. A Dutch "climate-book" provided the impetus for these proceedings. The book, which essentially calls for similar climate proceedings against all Western states due to their lack of action, was embraced by the influential Dutch Urgenda Foundation, the petitioner in the first climate suit following the book's blueprint.

Now available in an English translation under the title Revolution Justified, this book is ready to make a global impact. Backed by world-renowned American climate scientist James Hansen, author and Dutch attorney Roger H.J. Cox thinks reaching a wider audience with the English translation is important: "Multiple climate cases throughout Europe and in other Western countries will speed up the process toward an energy revolution that is demanded by citizens. This is why we worked hard to make the translation available as soon as possible, so potential petitioners in other countries can use it as a working document for their climate suits." Cox - already dubbed "the climate-lawyer" - prefers not to be labeled an activist, though he readily admits to helping Dutch businesses "go green" for several years now and was recently voted one of the top influencers in sustainable building in the Netherlands.

James Hansen was the first person to receive a copy of the English translation today, during the book's launch in The Hague. Hansen, actively involved in several climate proceedings in the United States himself, expressed his wholehearted endorsement of Revolution Justified. "In the climate and energy debate we need more pressure and involvement from the public, willing to defend our rights and those of our children and grandchildren using all the means of our laws to achieve justice", said Hansen, whose foreword gives further weight to this book's message, as do the forewords contributed by Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels and celebrated American architect of the "Cradle to Cradle" concept, William McDonough.

Provocatively subtitled Why only the law can save us now, this book makes for an undeniably gripping read. It describes the huge societal challenges of oil decline, climate change and the failure of democracy. The work argues that without legal intervention these challenges will put Western nations at risk of committing domestic human rights violations on a scale nobody had thought to ever see again after World War II. Meticulously substantiated with a wide array of international scientific, journalistic, legal and even military sources, the text draws readers into a tightening stranglehold that eases only in the final section. Here, the reader learns how the judiciary may yet rescue the climate and break through the status quo in the energy world to prevent the literal downfall of Western society.

Revolution Justified: Why only the law can save us now is a compelling work of non-fiction, written for a wide readership and available for worldwide distribution as from November 14, 2012 at http://www.revolutionjustified.org. This 328-page book will especially appeal to those involved in greening our economy.

Press invitation and information:

Press kit and review copy can be requested from the publisher's office at press@planetprosperity.org. For more information on the book and the author see http://www.revolutionjustified.org.

More information and specifics on the Dutch climate suit will be communicated directly by petitioner Urgenda via press releases and via http://www.urgenda.nl and via http://www.revolutionjustified.org as of November 14, 2012.

Members of the press are cordially invited to attend the book launch and the announcement of the Dutch climate suit, which will take place on November 14, 2012, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the Nieuwspoort international press centre in The Hague, in the political heart of the Netherlands.

The first copy of the book will be presented to Dr. James E. Hansen at this event, which will include presentations by Dr. Hansen, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and several academic experts on climate change and sustainable development. Concluding the presentations will be Marjan Minnesma, director of the Urgenda Foundation, who will be announcing legal proceedings against the Dutch state. Several related events (college tour, public interviews) with Mr. Hansen and others, will take place on November 14 - 16.