ICJ takes stand on local weather disaster, calls it ‘daunting self-inflicted’ – SABC Information

The International Court of Justice has described climate change as a daunting and self-inflicted problem that requires contributions by all parties to tackle its destructive effects.

It has delivered a historic advisory in the Peace Palace, in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The UN General Assembly had requested the world court to clarify countries’ responsibilities under international law, to protect the climate and the legal consequences for harming the climate system.

The court has stressed that climate change remains an urgent and existential threat.

The International Court of Justice has advised that states have a duty to prevent significant harm to the climate system.
It made a landmark ruling, as the world wants to address the existential crisis that has caused untold suffering.

But there are divisions between the global north, which argues that existing treaties like the Paris Agreement should guide the world, and developing countries, which want binding measures.

The World Court has also made it patently clear that states should stick to their obligations.

This comes as some of the major emitters, like the United States, have pulled out of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorised United Nations organs and agencies of the system.