Peruvian farmer's decade-long climate battle against RWE ends in German court

HAMM, Germany (AP) — A German court ruled against a Peruvian farmer on Wednesday in a landmark climate lawsuit which activists say opens the door for major greenhouse gas emitters to be held financially liable in Germany.

Farmer and mountain guide Saúl Luciano Lliuya said that glaciers above his hometown of Huaraz, Peru, are melting, increasing the risk of catastrophic flooding. He blames global warming that he argued was fueled by German energy giant RWE ’s historical greenhouse gas emissions.

RWE, which has never operated in Peru, denies legal responsibility, arguing that climate change is a global issue caused by many contributors.

The state court in Hamm, in western Germany, dismissed the lawsuit but rejected arguments from RWE that the company couldn't be held liable under German civil law.

“The great distance between the defendant’s power plants and the plaintiff’s residence in Peru alone was not sufficient reason to declare the lawsuit unfounded,” the court said in a statement.

Experts said the case has set a significant precedent in the fight to hold major polluters accountable for climate change.

“This supports cases that are currently underway and opens the door for future litigation,” Sebastien Duyck, an attorney with the Center for International Environmental Law, told The Associated Press.

Roda Verheyen, Lliuya’s attorney, called the court’s decision “a milestone and will give a tailwind to climate lawsuits against fossil fuel companies, and thus to the move away from fossil fuels worldwide” even though her client lost.

RWE argued that the lawsuit was legally inadmissible and that it set a dangerous precedent by holding individual emitters accountable for global climate change. It insists climate solutions should be addressed through state and international policies, not the courts.

In a statement after the court hearing concluded, energy company said: “The plaintiff was unable to provide evidence that there was a serious imminent adverse impact on his property.”

The case had been going on for a decade. Lliuya, who was not in court Wednesday, can’t appeal the ruling further. Judges and experts from Germany visited Peru in 2022.

Quell reported from The Hague, Netherlands.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

A protestor demands climate justice in front of the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany, ahead of the verdict in the climate lawsuit brought by Peruvian farmer Luciano Lliuya against German energy company RWE, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Lawyer Roda Verheyen speaks to journalists before the verdict is announced in the hearing of a climate lawsuit brought by Peruvian mountain farmer that glaciers above his hometown of Huaraz are melting due to German energy company RWE greenhouse gas emissions, at Hamm Higher Regional Court, in Hamm, Germany, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP)

Plaintiff's attorney Roda Verheyen celebrates with her team after the verdict in the climate damages case of plaintiff Peruvian farmer Luciano Lliuya against the German energy company RWE for its carbon emissions, at the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

A protestor demands climate justice in front of the Higher Regional Court in Hamm, Germany, ahead of the verdict in the climate lawsuit brought by Peruvian farmer Luciano Lliuya against German energy company RWE, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Tanner Pearson broke a tie at 6:17 of the third period and the Winnipeg Jets beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Sunday for their first back-to-back victories since mid-November.

Pearson took a pass from Josh Morrissey in front of the net and beat Jake Allen.

The Jets beat Los Angeles on Friday night to end an 11-game losing streak. They last won two straight Nov. 15-18. Winnipeg also won a one-goal game for the first time since Nov. 15, snapping an NHL record of 13 consecutive losses.

Alex Iafallo, Jonathan Toews and Gabriel Vilardi also scored, and Morrissey and Cole Perfetti each had two assists. Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves.

Winnipeg-born Cody Glass scored twice for New Jersey. Nico Hischier also had a goal, and Allen stopped 18 shots. The Devils have lost four consecutive games for the first time since early December.

Iafallo opneed the scoring with 1:10 left in the first period on a shot that deflected in. Hischier tied it 37 seconds later off a rebound.

Glass gave the Devils the lead at 1:05 of the second when he redirected a pass from Luke Hughes. Toews tied it at 2:36.

New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler’s shot went in just under a minute later, but the Jets successfully challenged for goaltender interference because Paul Cotter had bumped into Hellebuyck.

Glass put New Jersey ahead at 8:08, and Vilardi countered with his 18th of the season when he batted the puck in with 2:03 left in the second.

Devils: At Minnesota on Monday night.

Jets: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates after his goal against the New Jersey Devils with Jonathan Toews (19) and Dylan DeMelo (2) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Gabriel Vilardi (13) celebrates after his goal against the New Jersey Devils with Jonathan Toews (19) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Tanner Pearson (70) celebrates after the winning goal against the New Jersey Devils with Josh Morrissey (44), Daniel Zhilkin (53) and Logan Stanley (64) in an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) tries score as New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen, center top, makes a save during third-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Winnipeg Jets' Nino Niederreiter (62) tries to control the puck as New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen, center top, makes a save during third-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)