What specific environmental issue is attributed to the emissions in Lliuya v. RWE?

The emissions in the case of Lliuya v. RWE are specifically attributed to the environmental issue of melting glaciers, which in turn causes an increased flood risk. This landmark legal case involved a Peruvian farmer, Saul Lliuya, who claimed that the German utility company RWE should be held partially responsible for the dangers posed to his home from glacial melting resulting from climate change. The melting glaciers are linked directly to rising global temperatures, which are significantly driven by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

As glaciers melt, they contribute to the rise in water levels in glacial lakes, which can lead to flooding, especially if the lakes become unstable. The risks associated with these floods can have severe repercussions for communities living in the vicinity, making the connection between emissions and flood risk crucial to the arguments presented by Lliuya. This case emphasizes how emissions contribute to climate change and the specific hazards that arise from that, notably in vulnerable regions affected by glacial activity.