International Court of Justice delivers its advisory opinion on climate change

The International Court of Justice has delivered a landmark advisory opinion on States’ legal obligations regarding climate change. The Court confirmed that climate change poses an urgent and existential threat, and that States have binding obligations under international law—including customary international law and international human rights law—to take meaningful action to prevent significant harm to the climate system.

The Court found that failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including through fossil fuel activities and subsidies, may constitute an internationally wrongful act, giving rise to State responsibility and potential reparations.

Margherita Cornaglia acted for Albania in its second round submissions, assisted the representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Margherita and Odette Chalaby also co-authored a submission for WWF addressing States’ obligations to protect biodiversity from the effects of greenhouse gases.

A copy of the Advisory Opinion is available here.

A copy of the summary is available here.