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last mo.

ICJ Declares States Legally Bound to Act on Climate Change

Framing climate change as an urgent existential threat, the advisory opinion imposes duties for emission reductions with potential reparations for states that fail to comply.

Protesta ecologista ante el tribunal de La Haya.
El ministro de Cambio Climático de Vanuatu, Ralph Regenvanu, pronuncia un discurso durante una manifestación previa a la sesión de la Corte Internacional de Justicia (CIJ) encargada de emitir la primera Opinión Consultiva (OC) sobre las obligaciones legales de los Estados para abordar el cambio climático, en La Haya, el 23 de julio de 2025.
Retrato de familia de los miembros de la plataforma Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC).
El tribunal de la ONU pronunciará mañana su opinión histórica sobre la crisis climática

Overview

  • The International Court of Justice unanimously ruled that states must cooperate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the best available science and to curb global temperature rise.
  • The opinion bases state obligations on key instruments such as the UN Charter, the ICCPR, the Paris Agreement and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • It holds that states must regulate private emitters and safeguard citizens from climate-related disasters as part of their human rights responsibilities.
  • Although non-binding, the advisory opinion carries significant political and jurisprudential weight and is expected to guide future climate litigation, policymaking and international negotiations.
  • The ruling follows a 2023 UN General Assembly request initiated by Vanuatu and backed by over 130 nations after years of pressure from small island states and the Global South for stronger climate accountability.