The UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has begun considering the potential legal consequences of the actions and inactions of states that have led to damage related to climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. This is reported by DPA, quoted by BTA.
Small island states and developing countries are demanding that the court recognize climate protection as an international legal obligation. For them, this is not an abstract legal matter, but a matter of survival, representatives of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACP) emphasized. The case is the largest of its kind in the court's history.
In 2023 The UN General Assembly has tasked the International Court of Justice with preparing a legal opinion on the liability of states when, through actions or inaction, they cause significant damage to the climate system and the environment.
Particular attention is paid to small island developing states, which, due to their geographical vulnerability and level of development, suffer the most from the negative consequences of climate change.
The court's legal opinion is not binding, but experts note that it could have a significant impact on global climate policy and the interpretation of international obligations in this area.
In the case, representatives of 98 countries and 12 international organizations presented their opinions to the panel of 15 judges in The Hague.
Major economies, including the United States and China, the two countries with the highest contribution to global carbon dioxide emissions, rejected the imposition of legal obligations that go beyond existing international treaties. They mainly refer to the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.