World Court to Begin Hearings on Case That Could Shape Nations' Climate Responsibilities

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Friday that it will commence public hearings on December 2 regarding an advisory opinion that could set a precedent for defining national obligations in combating climate change.

As the principal judicial body of the United Nations, the ICJ is tasked with settling disputes between states. In 2023, the U.N. General Assembly requested the ICJ to provide a formal opinion on whether major greenhouse gas emitters might be held accountable for environmental damage inflicted on small island nations.

Although ICJ advisory opinions are not legally binding, they hold considerable weight both legally and politically. The anticipated opinion, set to be delivered in 2025, is expected to influence numerous climate-related legal actions currently underway across global courts.

According to the court's statement, by the August 15 deadline, 62 nations and organizations had submitted written comments. These include Australia, Brazil, the European Union, Grenada, Japan, Micronesia, the Philippines, Seychelles, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vanuatu.

This forthcoming ICJ opinion will build on previous international rulings, such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea's decision in May, which recognized greenhouse gases as a form of marine pollution and mandated that nations must safeguard oceanic environments.

A similar case is also before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which handles cases involving 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Rod Nickel)