A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered the state to slash greenhouse gas emissions nationwide by at least 25 percent by 2020 compared to 1990, in a case that could serve as a blueprint for activists around the world.
Climate experts called the ruling a "milestone", saying it would encourage concerned citizens in other countries to take their own governments to court to force them to cut the gases blamed for global warming.
The ruling by The Hague's District Court came after almost 900 Dutch citizens took their government to court in April in a bid to force a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change.
Environmental rights group Urgenda, which brought the case, had said it wanted The Hague to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent over 1990 levels by 2020.
Current Dutch policy is to reduce emissions by 17 percent by 2020, less than the 25-40 percent international norm for industrialized nations, the court said.
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