In a groundbreaking ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has affirmed that all nations have binding obligations under international law to combat climate change. This decision, rendered on Wednesday, underscores the urgency of the global climate crisis, describing it as an "urgent and existential threat."

The court's verdict establishes that state obligations stem not only from climate-specific treaties like the Paris Agreement but also from customary international law. Under the Paris Agreement, nations have pledged to keep the global temperature rise well below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. These commitments are supplemented by responsibilities to implement adaptation strategies, which include financial assistance, technology development, and capacity building.

Interestingly, the ICJ's ruling extends beyond the signatories of environmental treaties. States not party to such agreements are still required under customary law to evaluate environmental risks responsibly and prevent significant harm to other nations' environments. This includes regulating their greenhouse gas emissions and cooperating internationally to safeguard the environment.

The ICJ also linked environmental protection directly with human rights, stating that failing to address climate change could violate international human rights law. This is because adverse climate impacts can impede fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, and privacy. Moreover, the court recognized the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a fundamental human right.

For the first time, the court declared that obligations to protect the climate and prevent significant environmental harm are owed erga omnes, meaning they are duties owed to the international community at large. This principle allows even countries that are not directly injured by another state's actions to demand accountability.

Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, hailed the decision as a pivotal moment for global climate justice and called for intensified international efforts to protect our planet.

This ruling arrives just as the world anticipates the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30), and follows recent affirmations by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and UN experts on the legal obligations to confront the climate emergency and recognize the right to a healthy environment.

As the global community gears up for further climate negotiations, the ICJ's decision reaffirms the legal framework supporting international climate action, setting a precedent for future legal and environmental deliberations.