German Farmer Sues Volkswagen over Effects of Climate Change
2022-05-27
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1A German farmer is suing automaker Volkswagen (VW) for being partly responsible for the effects of climate change.
2The man, Ulf Allhoff-Cramer, claims drier soil and heavier rains linked to climate change have affected his fields, cows and forest operations.
3He said these effects have harmed his family business.
4In the case, Allhoff-Cramer calls on VW to end its production of gasoline powered vehicles by 2030.
5German automakers rejected a similar demand from environmental groups last year.
6"Farmers are already being hit harder and faster by climate change than expected," Allhoff-Cramer recently told reporters.
7He has argued that since VW is the second-largest automaker, it should take responsibility for environmental damage linked to climate change.
8During a recent hearing, a court in the western town of Detmold asked Allhoff-Cramer and his lawyers to provide additional details to support their legal arguments, Germany's dpa news agency reported.
9The judge also asked whether the farmer had already suffered climate-related damages or is still expecting them.
10The next court hearing will take place on September 9.
11The case is supported by the environmental group Greenpeace.
12The organization has supported similar legal efforts in Germany that sought to hold companies and the government responsible for the effects of climate change.
13Such cases have had mixed success.
14Some have been dismissed, while one made it to Germany's top court.
15Last year, the high court in that case ordered the government to increase efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
16Volkswagen said in a statement that it aims to reduce its emissions "as quickly as the business allows."
17VW has set a 2050 goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero.
18"Volkswagen stands for climate protection and rapid decarbonization of the transport sector, but cannot meet this challenge alone," the company said.
19It added that such progress also depends on government rules, technological development and buyer behaviors.
20VW said lawmakers should be the ones to decide on climate change measures.
21The company said it would "defend this position and ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed."
22In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered VW was using software that let diesel cars pass emissions tests, but then turned off pollution controls during normal driving.
23The company apologized for its actions and paid tens of billions of dollars in fines, business costs and damages to car owners.
24I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A German farmer is suing automaker Volkswagen (VW) for being partly responsible for the effects of climate change. 2The man, Ulf Allhoff-Cramer, claims drier soil and heavier rains linked to climate change have affected his fields, cows and forest operations. He said these effects have harmed his family business. 3In the case, Allhoff-Cramer calls on VW to end its production of gasoline powered vehicles by 2030. German automakers rejected a similar demand from environmental groups last year. 4"Farmers are already being hit harder and faster by climate change than expected," Allhoff-Cramer recently told reporters. He has argued that since VW is the second-largest automaker, it should take responsibility for environmental damage linked to climate change. 5During a recent hearing, a court in the western town of Detmold asked Allhoff-Cramer and his lawyers to provide additional details to support their legal arguments, Germany's dpa news agency reported. 6The judge also asked whether the farmer had already suffered climate-related damages or is still expecting them. The next court hearing will take place on September 9. 7The case is supported by the environmental group Greenpeace. The organization has supported similar legal efforts in Germany that sought to hold companies and the government responsible for the effects of climate change. 8Such cases have had mixed success. Some have been dismissed, while one made it to Germany's top court. Last year, the high court in that case ordered the government to increase efforts to reduce carbon emissions. 9Volkswagen said in a statement that it aims to reduce its emissions "as quickly as the business allows." VW has set a 2050 goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero. 10"Volkswagen stands for climate protection and rapid decarbonization of the transport sector, but cannot meet this challenge alone," the company said. It added that such progress also depends on government rules, technological development and buyer behaviors. 11VW said lawmakers should be the ones to decide on climate change measures. The company said it would "defend this position and ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed." 12In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered VW was using software that let diesel cars pass emissions tests, but then turned off pollution controls during normal driving. The company apologized for its actions and paid tens of billions of dollars in fines, business costs and damages to car owners. 13I'm Bryan Lynn. 14The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 15We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 16_______________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18sue - v. to take legal action against a person or organization and seek to get money from them because they have harmed you 19emission - n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source 20allow - v. to permit 21net-zero - adj. when a country, city, etc. removes as many emissions as it produces 22rapid - adj. happening or moving very quickly 23sector - n. one part of a country's economy 24challenge - n. a difficult task or problem; something that is hard to do