Will the World’s Highest Court Force Action on Climate Change?
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is set to tackle a landmark case: determining the legal obligations of nations to combat climate change and aid vulnerable countries facing its devastating impacts. Beginning today, the court will devote two weeks to hearings, marking the largest case in its nearly 80-year history.
This historic moment arrives after years of passionate lobbying by island nations who fear being swallowed by rising seas. The UN General Assembly, responding to these pleas, requested the ICJ’s opinion last year on the question: "What are the obligations of States in respect of climate change?"
The small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, leading the charge on behalf of threatened nations, hopes the court will confirm that the actions responsible for climate change are illegal. "We live on the front lines of climate change impact," says Vanuatu’s climate change envoy Ralph Regenvanu. "We are witnesses to the destruction of our lands, our livelihoods, our culture, and our human rights," he told reporters ahead of the hearing.
The ICJ’s decision, while non-binding, holds the potential to be a powerful catalyst for change. While it cannot directly force wealthy nations into action, the court’s opinion could pave the way for other legal challenges, including domestic lawsuits, and establish a powerful precedent for international climate action.
The court will hear from a staggering 99 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations over the two-week period.
Two key questions will be addressed: First, what are countries obligated to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? And second, what are the legal repercussions for governments whose actions – or inaction – have significantly harmed the climate and environment, particularly small island developing states that are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change?
This unprecedented legal battle comes as the world grapples with the escalating consequences of climate change. Last month, at the UN’s annual climate meeting, wealthy nations pledged to provide at least US$300 billion annually by 2035 to support developing countries in adapting to climate disasters. However, experts and threatened nations estimate that the true need is significantly higher, reaching US$1.3 trillion annually.
The world watches with bated breath as the ICJ deliberations unfold, hoping this landmark case will mark a turning point in the global fight against climate change.
Photo: AFP
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