UN's Highest Court Calls Climate Change 'Existential Threat'

Landmark Opinion Hailed as a Victory for Small Island and Low-Lying States

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THE HAGUE - The United Nations' highest court on July 23 said countries must address the "urgent and existential threat" of climate change by cooperating to curb emissions, as it delivered an opinion set to determine future environmental litigation.

The opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, was immediately welcomed by environmental groups. Legal experts said it was a victory for small island and low-lying states that had asked the court to clarify states' responsibilities.

"Climate change treaties establish stringent obligations on states," Judge Yuji Iwasawa said, adding that failing to comply with them was a breach of international law.

"States must cooperate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets," he said, reading out the court's advisory opinion.

He said that national climate plans must be of the highest ambition and collectively maintain standards to meet the aims of the 2015 Paris Agreement that include attempting to keep global warming below 1.5 deg C.

Under international law, he said, "the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights".