The United Nations’ top court ruled Wednesday that countries harmed by the effects of “climate change” could be entitled to reparations from countries that fail to “take appropriate action to protect the climate system.”
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague also called a failure to take measures to protect the earth a potential violation of international law, according to reporting of the opinion by a variety of news outlets.
The legal consequences resulting from the commission of an internationally wrongful act may include … full reparations to injured states in the form of restitution, compensation and satisfaction,” the court said, according to extensive coverage by France24.
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The ICJ added, that a “sufficient direct and certain causal nexus” had to be shown “between the wrongful act and the injury.”
“Failure of a state to take appropriate action to protect the climate system … may constitute an internationally wrongful act,” court president Yuji Iwasawa said during the hearing.
As France24 reported:
The International Court of Justice gave the remarks as an advisory opinion in a landmark case about nations’ obligations to tackle climate change and the consequences they may face if they don’t, calling it an “urgent and existential” threat to humanity.
The news outlet added that the opinion, which runs to over 500 pages, is seen as a potential turning point in international climate law.
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It was for a case brought by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, reportedly backed by more than 130 countries, due to concerns it could be destroyed by rising sea levels.
The ruling is not legally binding.
Yet, according to a report by CNN, “the status of the court gives it significant weight. Experts say it could bolster climate negotiations and provide a huge boost to climate lawsuits around the world.”
However, as Breitbart News reported this week, critics argue the opinion is toothless lawfare. Major polluters like China and India can choose simply to ignore it.
Furthermore, the U.S. withdrew from compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 1986.
