New advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the responsibility of states in relation to climate change
On July 23, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague published a long-awaited advisory opinion: States have binding obligations under international law to protect the global climate. If they fail to fulfill these obligations, their behavior may in future be classified as contrary to international law. The ICJ also ruled that the right to a “clean, healthy, and sustainable” environment is a universal human right. The ICJ further emphasized that climate change poses an “existential threat of planetary proportions” that has undoubtedly been caused by human activities. This opinion is considered groundbreaking by legal and climate experts.
