The International Court of Justice will deliver a landmark climate ruling, outlining the responsibilities of major polluters towards nations suffering from climate change. The advisory opinion will address countries’ responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the legal repercussions for people who have harmed the environment by their actions or omissions.
This verdict is regarded as the most significant climate-related case in international law, with the potential to unify laws, guide national policies, and enhance climate litigation globally.
Vanuatu led the push for this legal opinion, which was backed by fragile island nations facing increasing sea levels and extreme weather. More than 100 oral submissions were made during the December proceedings, the most in the court’s history. Representatives from small island nations described the case as vital to their survival, imploring the court to ensure justice for the countries least responsible but most affected by climate change.
Major polluters argued that current institutions, like the UNFCCC, are adequate to handle climate change and opposed the creation of new legal duties. The U.S. emphasised the importance of maintaining the current climate policy.
