ICJ Considers Legal Responsibility for Climate Change
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has concluded historic hearings involving over 100 countries regarding legal accountability for the climate crisis, Al Jazeera reported yesterday.
Spearheaded by Vanuatu and other Pacific island nations, the hearings, which began on December 2, focused on the obligations of nations under international law to protect the environment from human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
Vanuatu’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ralph Regenvanu, emphasized the urgency of the proceedings, stating that their outcome could determine the fate of vulnerable nations and the planet’s future. While most nations argued for accountability, a minority of major fossil fuel producers, including the U.S., UK, and China, contended that they should not be held liable.
The ICJ judges will address two critical questions: the legal obligations of countries to combat climate change and the consequences of governmental inaction that harms the environment.
Among the countries presenting statements was the State of Palestine, which highlighted the impact of illegal occupation on climate change and the ability to respond to it. Activists have increasingly turned to legal avenues due to dissatisfaction with progress in UN climate negotiations, underscoring the need for a collective response grounded in international law.
