Top UN court says countries can sue each other over climate change

The International Court of Justice, the highest court of the United Nations, has made a historic decision that could change how countries deal with climate change. The court, located in The Hague, Netherlands, announced that countries can now sue each other over the effects of climate change, including for damage caused by greenhouse gases released in the past. This decision is not legally binding, but experts believe it could have a major impact on how countries respond to climate change and how they treat each other when it comes to environmental harm.

This case was started by a group of young law students from Pacific island nations, which are some of the most vulnerable places in the world to climate change. These students, including Siosiua Veikune from Tonga, wanted to find a way to help their countries get justice for the damage they have suffered. When the court announced its decision, Veikune said he was overwhelmed with emotion and proud to bring this victory back to his community. Flora Vano from Vanuatu, another island nation, said the court’s decision recognized the suffering and strength of her people, and gave hope to all communities on the front lines of climate change.

The court’s opinion could be used in other courts around the world, even though it is not a law that must be followed. Many developing countries supported the case because they feel that richer countries are not doing enough to stop climate change or to help those who are suffering. These poorer countries hope that the decision will lead to compensation from countries that have burned the most fossil fuels and caused the most global warming. However, some developed countries, like the UK, argued that the current international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, are enough and that no new legal rules are needed. The court disagreed, saying that all countries must make the strongest possible plans to fight climate change, and that even countries not part of the Paris Agreement still have a duty to protect the environment.

The court also said that developing countries have the right to ask for damages if their buildings or infrastructure are destroyed by climate change. If it is not possible to repair the damage, the country can ask for money instead. For example, Vanuatu was hit by a powerful cyclone in 2015 that destroyed thousands of homes and caused huge economic losses. The court said that if it can be proven that climate change made a disaster worse, the affected country can seek compensation. The court also made it clear that governments are responsible for the actions of companies in their countries, especially if they support fossil fuel industries or approve new oil and gas projects.

Lawyers say that developing countries are already thinking about using this decision to bring new cases against richer countries that have caused more pollution. However, only countries that accept the court’s authority, like the UK, can be sued at the International Court of Justice. Other countries, like the US and China, are not bound by the court’s decisions, but the opinion can still be used in other courts around the world. Some experts warn that the court does not have the power to force countries to follow its decisions, and that international politics could affect how the ruling is used. Still, this decision is seen as a major victory for countries and communities that are most at risk from climate change, and it could lead to more action and support for those who need it most.