Dutch government appeals against court ruling over emissions cuts

Judges ordered a 25% carbon emissions cut by 2020 in the first successful lawsuit against a government’s climate policy

The Dutch government has launched a bid to overturn a landmark climate ruling, arguing that judges in The Hague “sidelined democracy” when they ordered a 25% cut in carbon emissions by 2020.

Government plans for a lesser 17% cut in CO2 pollution were deemed unlawful three years ago, in the first successful lawsuit against a government’s climate policy.

Related: 'We can't see a future': group takes EU to court over climate change