Climate activists are celebrating the latest ruling by the International Court of Justice. The ICJ or World Court, the highest court of the United Nations, has delivered a landmark ruling on climate change.
The ICJ says that countries have a duty to protect the climate from the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. If they don’t then the countries may be in violation of international law. And that can have consequences. The ruling is being lauded as a game-changer for Climate Justice.
Over 100 countries approached the ICJ in 2023, for the advisory opinion. They are quite pleased with the outcome. The country that has been leading this push is Vanuatu. It’s a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu faces an existential threat from climate change. Since 1993, sea levels have risen by about 6 millimetres per year. That’s much higher than the global average. And it’s a similar story for most other small island nations as well. That’s why Vanuatu and other island countries were at the forefront of this ICJ case. And it’s why they are celebrating the most.
Polluting countries can now be sued for excessive carbon emissions from fossil fuels, which are known to cause climate change. Even though the ICJ hasn’t issued an order, but given an advisory opinion. This is because the ICJ opinion is expected to provide added heft to climate justice cases around the world.
Action against polluting countries, action against greenhouse gas emitters and reparations for environmental damage. The ICJ opinion makes all of this possible. Getting the world’s biggest polluters to pay is still an uphill battle, but the ICJ ruling gives the victims a fighting chance.
