The United Nations International Court of Justice delivered its advisory opinion on the obligations of states to address climate change on the 23rd local time in The Hague, Netherlands. The court emphasized that climate change is an urgent and life-threatening threat. The opinion pointed out that countries should take maximum efforts within the limits of the law to avoid irreversible climate damage. It stated unequivocally that greenhouse gas emissions are caused by human activities and have cross-border impacts.
This was the first systematic exposition by an international judicial body on the legal responsibilities of states in addressing climate change globally, marking a milestone.
The advisory opinion stemmed from a request made by the representative of Vanuatu to the United Nations General Assembly in 2023. Following this, the General Assembly passed a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to provide legal opinions on the obligations of states under international law regarding climate change, particularly the responsibilities towards vulnerable countries and future generations. While not binding, this advisory opinion carries significant legal and moral influence, potentially driving the development of global climate litigation cases and providing important legal foundations for establishing more binding international climate governance mechanisms. (CCTV Gu Xin)