The 15-judge International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague, Netherlands, concluded that international treaties require developed countries to curb global warming and oversee the climate impact of companies operating under their jurisdiction.
“States must cooperate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets,” said Judge Yuji Iwasawa, according to Fox News. “Greenhouse gas emissions are unequivocally caused by human activities which are not territorially limited.”
The court warned that nations which do not fulfill their obligations could face “full reparations to injured states in the form of restitution, compensation and satisfaction provided that the general conditions of the law of state responsibility are met,” according to the ruling.
The ICJ's opinion came in response to a request from a group of developing nations and small island states, which argue they are facing existential threats from rising sea levels and climate-related disasters.
They sought legal clarity after the 2015 Paris Agreement failed to halt the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is a victory for our planet, for climate justice, and for the power of young people to make a difference,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “The world must respond.” Guterres added that the court’s decision confirms the Paris climate accord must guide all national climate strategies.
Officials in several small island nations praised the decision. Ralph Regenvanu, the climate minister for Vanuatu, said, “I didn’t expect it to be this good.”
The court’s finding extends legal responsibility beyond governments to include private corporations operating within national borders.
In response, the White House emphasized President Donald Trump’s focus on domestic priorities. “As always, President Trump and the entire Administration is committed to putting America first and prioritizing the interests of everyday Americans,” spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News.
