On May 28, 2024, the Brazilian Association for Economic Freedom (ABLE) and the Institute of Law and Economics of Rio Grande do Sul (IDERS) filed a Public Civil Action (ACP) against the Federal Government following the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul in April and May 2024. They argued that the climate disaster caused a humanitarian, social, and economic crisis that severely affected the productive sector of Rio Grande do Sul, and that the Federal Government has a constitutional and legal duty to act in prevention, response, and recovery in the face of public calamities. They alleged that the measures adopted by the federal government were insufficient, as they focused primarily on offering subsidized credit, financial guarantees, and postponement of obligations, rather than non-refundable resources capable of promoting the economic reconstruction of the state. No concrete measures were taken by the federal government despite a project comprised of reports which projected extreme increases in rainfall in the South of the country (titled "Brazil 2040: Scenarios and Alternatives for Adaptation to Climate Change,"). They ask for the implementation of a comprehensive financial support plan for the affected productive sector, with direct transfer of non-refundable resources, as well as the condemnation of the federal government to pay collective moral damages arising from its alleged responsibility for insufficient preparation and management of the calamity.

In an amendment to the initial petition, the legal basis for the claim was reinforced, especially regarding the Union's responsibility in the prevention, response, and recovery from disasters, based on Law No. 12.340/2010.

In June, 2024, the 1st Federal Court of Porto Alegre dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, recognizing the lack of standing of ABLE and IDERS. The court understood that there was not sufficient thematic relevance between the institutional objectives of the associations and the protection sought on behalf of the companies affected by the floods.

In their appeal, the plaintiffs argued that the lawsuit did not seek private compensation, but rather the implementation of a public economic policy aimed at rebuilding the productive sector of Rio Grande do Sul. They argued that the statutory purposes of ABLE and IDERS, related to the economic analysis of law, public policies, and economic freedoms, were sufficient to legitimize their actions.

The Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region dismissed the appeal filed by AMICROPOA – which requested to join the case as a co-litigant assistant to the plaintiffs – due to a procedural representation defect, and denied the appeal filed by ABLE and IDERS. The court concluded that the institutional objectives of the associations were predominantly focused on teaching, research, academic production, and the promotion of debates on law and economics, and that there was insufficient thematic relevance to require the Union to implement a financial support plan for the productive sector, nor to claim collective moral damages, thus upholding the dismissal of the action.

ABLE e IDERS vs. União Federal (Economic reconstruction after the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.)

<p>This entry was provided by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Please see the terms of use for citation and licensing of third party data.</p>

ABLE e IDERS vs. União Federal (Economic reconstruction after the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.) - judgment

Filed

The Climate Litigation Database

Find climate change litigation data and indicators for {text}.

{text} litigation

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law provides Climate Litigation Database, a comprehensive database of US and Global climate change caselaw

Quickly and easily search through the complete text of thousands of climate change law and policy documents from every country.

Search the Climate Litigation Database

An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Extreme weather refers to events where a weather variable exceeds (or falls below) a threshold. Meaning it is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

This sector involves activities that impart knowledge and skills to individuals, including formal schooling, vocational training and educational support.

ABLE e IDERS vs. União Federal (Economic reconstruction after the floods in Rio Grande do Sul.) - judgment

Risk

Economic sector

Finance