The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will announce on Wednesday the obligations countries should have to protect the climate from disruption caused by greenhouse gases and the consequences of causing climate harm.
This decision will be delivered during a session at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, and while not legally binding, it is considered to hold significant influence.
The United Nations member states requested the advisory opinion, supporting a proposal from Vanuatu more than two years ago. The Pacific island nation feels increasingly threatened by climate change and the resulting rise in sea levels.
In December of last year, countries had the opportunity to present their views to the court. Representatives from a record 98 countries and 12 organisations presented their positions to the 15 judges. Among those providing their input were vulnerable island states like Fiji and Vanuatu, the world’s three largest emitters—China, the United States, and India—as well as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the European Union.
Although the ruling is not directly binding, the opinions issued by the court carry “substantial legal weight and moral authority,” as stated by the ICJ. This advisory opinion could be utilised by judges when assessing climate-related cases.
