The International Court of Justice's Climate Opinion Explained
By Alanna Loder-Symonds, Sustainability Director at EQONIC Sustainability
There was a piece of wonderful news last week, a victory for the planet and climate justice that you might have missed.
Last week the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the world's highest court, issued an advisory ruling that states nations that fail to prevent climate harm could be ordered to pay reparations.
It ruled a state's failure to take appropriate action to protect the climate system from GHG emissions, including through the production and consumption of fossil fuels, the granting of fossil fuel exploration licences or the provision of fossil fuel subsidies, "may constitute an international wrongful act which is attributable to that state".
The watershed ruling was brought by law students from the pacific island nation of Vanuatu, it was supported by 130 countries.
It means that countries that aren't signed up to the Paris Agreement, or those that choose to leave it like America are still required to protect the environment and climate system.
The ruling paves the way for countries, groups or individuals who are impacted by extreme weather and other climate impacts to sue high emitting nations, for current and past emissions.
You can find out more about this here:
The brilliant Outrage and Optimism podcast:
Breaking Planetary News: Th…–Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast – Apple Podcasts
The Guardian:
Nations who fail to curb fossil fuels could be ordered to pay reparations, top UN court rules | Climate crisis | The Guardian
