The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is set to deliver a landmark advisory opinion on Wednesday that will provide a global legal blueprint for tackling climate change. This opinion is also expected to outline the responsibilities of major polluters towards countries most affected by climate change.
The ICJ has been tasked with crafting this “advisory opinion” on states’ obligations to prevent climate change and the consequences for polluters whose emissions have harmed the planet. The Court will deliver its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 3:00 PM (The Hague time).
Experts view this as the most significant in a series of recent rulings on climate change in international law, with potentially major repercussions for states and corporations worldwide. Climate-vulnerable countries and advocacy groups are hopeful that the opinion will have far-reaching legal consequences in the fight against climate change. They anticipate it will unify existing international law, influence national and international legislation, and impact ongoing court cases.
“It will be the compass the world needs to course correct,” stated Vishal Prasad, director of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, a youth group that championed the request for this advisory opinion. “It will give new strength to climate litigation, inspire more ambitious national policies and guide states toward decisions that uphold their legal duties to protect both people and planet.”
While the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not legally binding in the same way as judgments in contentious cases, they carry significant legal weight and moral authority. Critics, however, argue that the ruling might be “toothless” as major polluters could choose to disregard it. Despite this, the opinion is expected to clarify states’ rights and obligations under existing international law, providing a clear legal benchmark for future actions.
The process leading to this opinion began with a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in March 2023, following years of campaigning by youth groups and a coalition of over 100 countries led by Vanuatu. The Court received 91 written statements and 62 written comments, and 96 states and 11 international organizations presented oral statements at public hearings in The Hague in December 2024. These hearings extensively discussed various aspects, including human rights law, customary international law, and the responsibilities of states to prevent transboundary environmental harm.
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