As of: 03/29/2023 21:01
The International Court of Justice will clarify, in an expert opinion, what are the obligations of countries in the fight against global warming. The court appealed to the UN General Assembly, which adopted a resolution by the threatened island state of Vanuatu.
In the fight against the climate crisis, the UN General Assembly turned to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The court will draw up an opinion on the obligations of countries in combating global warming.
The resolution addresses the actions of states responsible for global warming and their obligations towards states particularly affected and towards the Earth’s inhabitants of today and tomorrow. Protecting the global climate for present and future generations is described as an “unprecedented challenge of civilizational importance”.
The resolution was largely brought about by the island state of Vanuatu in the Pacific, which is existentially threatened due to climate change. The highest body of the UN approved them unanimously. Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsaku spoke of a “clear and unequivocal message” for the world and “also for the distant future”.
non-binding opinion
The ICJ’s opinion is expected in about two years. However, it is not binding but could give more weight to calls for stronger climate protection measures, the United Nations hopes.
“Such a view would help the General Assembly, the United Nations and Member States to take bolder and stronger climate action that our world so badly needs,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. National courts are also often based on expert opinions from the ICJ.
The International Court of Justice is the judicial organ of the United Nations and should not be confused with the International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague.