The United Nations’ highest court yesterday said countries must address the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change by co-operating to curb emissions, as it delivered an opinion set to determine future environmental litigation.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said failure by countries to meet their climate obligations could, in specific cases, lead other states affected by climate change to litigate.
The opinion by the ICJ, also known as the World Court, was immediately welcomed by environmental groups. Legal experts said it was a victory for small island and low-lying states that had asked the court to clarify states’ responsibilities.
Judge Yuji Iwasawa said countries were obliged to comply with the “stringent obligations” placed on them by climate treaties and failure to do so was a breach of international law.
“States must co-operate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets,” Iwasawa said, as he read out the court’s advisory opinion.
He said that national climate plans must be of the highest ambition and collectively maintain standards to meet the aims of the 2015 Paris Agreement that include attempting to keep global warming below 1.5C.
Under international law, he said: “The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights.”
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