By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters – Climate activists were convicted of protesting against a Swiss bank Credit Suisse (SIX:) filed a Friday application for a review at the European Court of Human Rights. This was a move their lawyers suggested could establish a precedent.

An appeals court in Switzerland reversed last year a decision that cleared the twelve climate activists of violating Credit Suisse’s property. It argued their actions were necessary due to the “imminent threat” of global warming. This decision was confirmed by Switzerland’s highest court.

After protestors refused to pay the fine for trespassing at a branch on November 18, 2018, they pretended that Roger Federer was their sponsor to emphasize his support by the bank which funds fossil fuel projects.

Credit Suisse refused to comment about the ongoing court case. According to a spokesperson from Switzerland’s second biggest bank, the sponsorship partnerships with Federer and with Roger Federer were still valid.

Federer expressed his gratitude previously to climate activists, “for forcing us all to review our behaviours to find new solutions”. His Foundation spokesperson did not respond immediately to Friday’s request for comment.

Some 12 activists presented the appeal at Strasbourg court, also known as an application. They wore sweatbands and sneakers to play tennis outside. A banner with the slogan ‘#RogerForClimate’ was used as a net.

“This case is one of the first and it could create a European precedent,” Raphaël Mahaim, one of the lawyers for the activists, told Reuters from Strasbourg.

An spokesperson from the court didn’t immediately reply to my request for comment.

The activists’ request coincides with a youth rally through Glasgow to demand that leaders at the U.N. COP26 climate conference https://www.reuters.com/business/cop safeguard their future.

A rising number of climate justice cases invoke human rights. That may change after the U.N. rights committee recognized access to a healthy and clean environment as an essential right.