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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has held its largest hearing since its establishment nearly 80 years ago.
The two-week hearing, which begins on December 2, aims to establish legal guidelines for how countries respond to climate change and help vulnerable countries build resilience to its devastating impacts.
For years, Pacific island nations have called on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to raise the issue of countries’ legal obligations to combat climate change. In a resolution adopted last year, the UNGA also asked international judges to provide advisory opinions on the issue.
In the decade to 2023, global sea levels rose an average of about 4.3 centimeters, with some parts of the Pacific rising more than others, according to UN data. Island nations have long feared they could disappear because of rising seas. Global temperatures have also risen 1.3 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, thanks to the burning of fossil fuels.
According to the plan, more than 100 countries and organizations will submit documents to the 15-member panel of judges to present opinions, debate and defend their rights and obligations. This is the highest number of participants ever at the UN court based in The Hague (The Netherlands).
The ICJ will focus on two questions: What obligations do states have under international law to protect the climate and the environment from the impacts of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? And what are the legal consequences for governments that fail to act, or act insufficiently, resulting in significant harm to the climate and the environment?
Although not legally binding, many believe that the ICJ's ruling will provide a basis for further action and put pressure on developed countries in the current fight against climate change. Mr. Ralph Regenvanu - Vanuatu's Special Envoy for Climate Change and the Environment - said that asking the ICJ to clarify international legal obligations for climate action is important, as island states are on the front lines in the fight against the impacts of climate change.
At the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan, developed countries agreed to triple public finance support for developing countries, from 100 billion USD to 300 billion USD per year by 2035.
However, developing countries said this commitment was not enough, and were also disappointed that the final agreement of COP29 did not include a global commitment to abandon the burning of fossil fuels, one of the important causes of global warming.
