BGH Rejects Climate Lawsuit Against Car Makers

23. March 2026, 12:15

The Federal Court of Justice made an important decision on Monday. It rejected two climate lawsuits from the German Environmental Aid. The lawsuits were against the companies BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The DUH wanted to stop the sale of certain cars.

The environmental protectors asked to end new cars with a combustion engine. The ban should start in November 2030. The plaintiffs said: Car exhaust gases hurt their rights. Too much CO2 harms future freedom. The BGH sees this differently than the plaintiffs.

The judges in Karlsruhe say: The courts are not in charge of this. The state must decide about climate protection. Politics makes laws. Civil courts do not. So, BMW and Mercedes do not have to stop selling because of this lawsuit. The DUH now checks for more legal steps.

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Definitions

Combustion Engine: An engine that burns fuel like gasoline or diesel to make energy for driving. It creates exhaust gases that are bad for the environment.
Federal Court of Justice: The highest court in Germany for questions of law between citizens or companies. It checks if rulings from other courts were correct.
CO2: A gas that forms when coal, oil, or gas burns. It makes the Earth get warmer and warmer.

People

German Environmental Aid: An organization that works to protect the environment and fight climate change. They sued the car makers.

Locations

Karlsruhe: A city in Germany. Important courts, like the Federal Court of Justice, are located there.

Sources

FAZ 23. March 2026, 11:22

Umwelthilfe scheitert vor dem BGH mit Klimaklage gegen BMW und Mercedes

Die Zeit 23. March 2026, 11:25

Bundesgerichtshof: BGH: Kein Erfolg für Klimaklagen gegen BMW und Mercedes

Bild 23. March 2026, 11:28

BGH weist Klimaklage der Umwelthilfe gegen BMW und Mercedes ab | Geld

Die Zeit 23. March 2026, 11:38

Automobilindustrie: BGH weist Klimaklage gegen BMW und Mercedes ab

ORF 23. March 2026, 11:41

Deutschland: Klimaklage gegen BMW und Mercedes gescheitert

Südtirol News 23. March 2026, 11:35

Klimaklage in Deutschland gegen BMW und Mercedes gescheitert

FAZ 23. March 2026, 11:22

BGH: Umwelthilfe scheitert mit Klimaklage gegen BMW und Mercedes

Der Spiegel 23. March 2026, 12:04

Verbrenner-Aus ab 2030 gefordert – Umwelthilfe scheitert mit Klage gegen Mercedes und BMW