The German Environmental Action (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, DUH) filed a climate action before the Higher Administrative Court of Bremen (Oberverwaltungsgericht der Freien Hansestadt Bremen) against the Bremen Senate, seeking to compel the state government to comply with its statutory climate-planning obligations.

Under the Bremen Climate Protection and Energy Act (Bremisches Klimaschutz- und Energiegesetz), Bremen must reduce its CO₂ emissions by at least 60% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. Emissions had fallen by only 34.8% by 2024, while a study commissioned by the Bremen government projects a reduction of only 40–45% by 2030, even if all currently planned measures are implemented.

The action challenges the Senate's alleged failure to comply with the Act's mandatory corrective-action procedure. Following publication of the preliminary emissions balance in March 2026, the Senate was required to report to the Bremen Parliament by May 31, 2026 on whether the 2030 target was likely to be achieved. It was then required, by July 31, 2026, to submit a draft of additional climate measures if the target was at risk. According to DUH, neither step was taken.

DUH seeks an effective climate action plan setting out concrete, effective, and quantified additional measures capable of enabling Bremen to meet its statutory 2030 target.

DUH v. Bremen Senate

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DUH v. Bremen Senate - complaint

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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

Codes and standards are regulatory instruments that specify minimum standards to protect health and safety. This ranges from performance standards, which prescribe outcomes while allowing flexibility to achieve compliance, to the more prescriptive approach of technology-specific standards.

Zoning and spatial planning are both methods for guiding the distribution of people and activities in a space, and are regulatory restriction.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

A commitment to balance GHG emissions with removal by a certain point in time, effectively reducing the net emissions to zero

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Replacing technologies that burn fossil fuels directly with alternatives powered by electricity.

Social inclusion is the process of improving the terms on which individuals and groups take part in society—improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of those disadvantaged on the basis of their identity.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

Activities of businesses and institutions that provide financial services and products to individuals and organisations.

DUH v. Bremen Senate - complaint

Target

Policy instrument

Impacted group

Just transition

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector