After months of anticipation, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has delivered an advisory opinion on climate change – confirming the obligation of countries to act decisively in response to the environmental consequences or they would commit “an internationally wrongful act”. So, what’s next? The ICJ case was championed and driven by Pacific Island countries. The advisory opinion opens the door for vulnerable states to seek compensation from those dodging climate action. Critically, the court’s finding extends state responsibility for emissions beyond the burning of fossil fuels to the subsidisation of the industries involved, as well as extraction. This result also steps up pressure on polluters, dismissing the need to prove a full causal link between action and damage in cases where existing scientific evidence is deemed sufficient.
The world court tightens the tap on fossil fuels | Lowy Institute
