A Spanish court has ruled that government inaction on livestock waste pollution violated the human rights of residents in Galicia’s A Limia region.
Rebecca Ann Hughes reports for Euronews.
In short:
- The High Court of Galicia found that both national and regional authorities failed to control pollution from industrial pig and poultry farms, contaminating water and air in the village of As Conchas.
- Scientists provided courtroom evidence of extreme nitrate levels and antibiotic-resistant superbugs, linking the pollution to serious health risks and moral harm to residents.
- The ruling, a legal first in Spain, establishes that environmental degradation from factory farming can constitute a violation of constitutional and European human rights protections.
Key quote:
"Residents of the village of As Conchas who live in the affected area are found to be in a serious situation concerning their enjoyment of daily life. This includes the presence of foul odours, the risk of aerosol exposure, contamination of private wells to levels that render them unusable, loss of property value, and a severe potential health risk...”
— High Court of Galicia ruling
Why this matters:
The decision reflects growing recognition that pollution from industrial livestock operations not only affects the environment but can erode basic human rights. In Galicia, toxic runoff from large pig and poultry farms has turned water sources hazardous and filled the air with noxious fumes, forcing residents to seal their windows and abandon wells. Scientific testimony pointed to nitrate levels up to 1,000 times higher than normal and the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These conditions heighten cancer risks and contribute to the global rise in untreatable infections. The ruling could set a precedent for similar lawsuits across Europe.
Related: Ending factory farming could mitigate climate change and pandemics
