A court in Germany on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by environmental campaigners seeking to force automaker BMW to stop selling cars with internal combustion engines by 2030, AP reported.

The group Environmental Action Germany, also known as DUH, argued that manufacturers such as BMW pose a threat to people's right to property, health and life if they continue to produce cars that produce greenhouse gas emissions.

A regional court in Munich ruled Tuesday that while the plaintiffs' arguments could not be dismissed to begin with, there is currently no threat of unlawful encroachment on their rights.

The judges noted that German and European lawmakers, incited in part by the German high court's 2021 decision, have taken numerous measures to achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Thus, there is no shortage of laws that would justify a civil suit against BMW, at least not at this time, they said.

Meanwhile, DUH said it was satisfied that the court found their lawsuit admissible in principle. The organization plans to appeal the decision.

It said the cars sold by BMW in 2021 were responsible for more carbon dioxide emissions heating the planet than countries like Finland or Portugal produce in a year.

A similar lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz was dismissed by a German court last year, and an appeal is pending.

A third lawsuit, against the energy company Wintershall Dea, is scheduled to be heard in August.