The International Court of Justice is set to hold public hearings on December 2nd in a case that could define countries’ legal obligations to combat climate change. The case, which was brought by the UN General Assembly, seeks an advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect to climate change. The panel of 15 judges will seek to answer questions regarding what countries are obligated to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the legal consequences for governments that harm the climate through inaction.
This case follows a recent advisory opinion from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which determined that carbon emissions qualify as marine pollution and countries must take steps to mitigate their effects. The upcoming ruling from the International Court of Justice, along with previous judgments from other courts around the world, are expected to set a framework for future climate legal cases.
In the Netherlands, domestic courts have already ruled that protection from climate change is a human right and that the government is duty-bound to protect its citizens from its effects. The upcoming ruling from the International Court of Justice is likely to have a significant impact on future climate litigation and could influence governments to take stronger action to combat climate change. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for countries worldwide in their efforts to address the global climate crisis.
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