Climate Threat Global Challenges

The Hague Court: Insufficient Climate Action May Violate International Law

In a guiding opinion, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has ruled that a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right, writes AP.

States that fail to meet their climate commitments may therefore be guilty of violating international law. This means that countries that have suffered damage from climate change may be entitled to compensation.

The decision is not legally binding, but is still seen as a possible turning point in international climate law and could lead to states taking each other to court for insufficient climate action, according to The Guardian.

Sweden welcomes the decision, writes Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) to SVT Nyheter.

“The level of ambition in global climate action is currently insufficient,” she adds.

Historic Statement on Climate Law Expected

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to make a historic statement on nations' legal obligations to prevent climate change on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reports.

The statement is not a judgment, but an attempt to clarify and summarize the legislation into an international standard. It also includes what the legal consequences could be for countries that do not live up to their commitments.

According to experts AFP has spoken to, the statement could change the legal conditions for climate work forever.

The case is the court's largest ever, and the result is expected to be at least a couple of hundred pages long.

80 percent of Tuvalu wants to move to Australia

Over 80 percent of the island nation of Tuvalu's population has applied for a so-called climate visa in Australia, AFP writes.

Tuvalu is sinking into the sea as a result of climate-related sea level rise, and many of its residents now seem to be hoping to leave the country.

However, most will be disappointed, according to Australia's Tuvalu Commissioner.

"We are offering 280 visas under this program this year, so many will be left without," the agency wrote in a statement.