Nations must act on climate change or could be held responsible, top U.N. court rules
Briefly

The United Nations court has ruled that countries must limit climate change, or they could be legally responsible for damages caused elsewhere. This decision supports small, vulnerable nations like Vanuatu, which championed stronger climate action. Although the ruling is advisory and not legally binding, it may encourage climate litigation in national courts. The ICJ confirmed that to protect human rights, states must safeguard the climate and warned countries about the financial repercussions of failing to reduce emissions from fossil fuels.
"It's really groundbreaking," says Maria Antonia Tigre, director of Global Climate Change Litigation at Columbia Law School. "I think it will create this new wave of climate litigation."
"In order to guarantee the effective enjoyment of human rights, states must take measures to protect the climate system and other parts of the environment," Judge Yuji Iwasawa read from the court's opinion.
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