Volkswagen has to face up to the demands of climate activists for an end to combustion engines in another court.

The 6th Civil Chamber of the Braunschweig Regional Court declared on Tuesday that it considers a lawsuit against the car manufacturer supported by Greenpeace to be formally admissible. However, it was questionable whether it was also well-founded. When weighing up the case, it depends on whether the plaintiffs have to endure an impairment of their fundamental rights due to environmental pollution, said the judge in a preliminary assessment. If this was the case, an injunction could not be demanded. "We have assumed this so far." The court has set a hearing date for January 31.

Greenpeace was satisfied that the lawsuit had not been dismissed. "We are in the middle of the dispute and that is a good thing," said lawyer Roda Verheyen on the sidelines of the hearing. According to the court, the plaintiffs are arguing in the lawsuit on the basis of the Federal Constitutional Court's climate ruling, stating that their "property, health and right to preserve greenhouse gas-related freedom" have been violated.

VW sees its legal position vindicated. "The plaintiffs have no claims against Volkswagen," said lawyer Wolf Spieth. The car manufacturer argues that it is the task of the legislator to shape climate protection. "Disputes in civil courts through lawsuits against individual companies singled out for this purpose are not the place or the means to do justice to this responsible task." The company has therefore requested that the lawsuit be dismissed. A spokesperson pointed out that the court had emphasized the separation of powers. This means that in climate issues, claims can be made against the state, but not against individuals or companies.

The plaintiffs supported by Greenpeace want the car manufacturer to be banned from selling vehicles with combustion engines from 2030. The company should also be obliged to reduce CO2 emissions by 65 percent by the end of the decade compared to 2018.

Similar proceedings, in which an organic farmer is suing VW, have been ongoing for some time at Detmold Regional Court. It is due to continue at the beginning of February.

(Report by Victoria Waldersee and Jan C. Schwartz. Edited by Olaf Brenner. If you have any queries, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and the economy) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).)