In what experts are calling a historic milestone, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a long-awaited advisory opinion confirming that countries have a legal duty to protect the climate.
The ruling clarifies that states party to international climate treaties—such as the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement—are now under international legal obligation to:
- Reduce emissions to keep global warming below 1.5°C
- Phase down fossil fuel production and consumption
- Cooperate on technology transfer and climate finance
Critically, the ICJ also recognized for the first time that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is part of human rights law—opening the door to future climate justice claims and compensation for vulnerable countries.
While the advisory opinion is not legally binding, it carries significant weight and could influence national laws, strengthen future litigation, and increase pressure on governments dragging their feet on climate action.
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres put it, the ruling marks a “historic turning point in the fight against climate change.”