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Australia warned it could face legal action over 'wrongful' fossil fuel actions after landmark climate ruling from world
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/24/australia-warned-it-could-face-legal-action-over-fossil-fuels-after-icj-landmark-climate-rulingAustralia warned it could face legal action over ‘wrongful’ fossil fuel actions after landmark climate ruling from world’s top court
Vanuatu climate change minister says ICJ opinion gives Pacific island nations ‘much greater leverage’ in dealing with partners such as Australia
Adam Morton Climate and environment editor
Thu 24 Jul 2025 02.10 EDT
Australia could face international legal action over its fossil fuel production and failure to rapidly cut emissions, Vanuatu’s climate minister says, after a potentially watershed declaration by the world’s top court.
An International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion published in The Hague on Wednesday found countries had a legal obligation to take measures to prevent climate change and aim to limit global heating to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, and that high-emitting countries that failed to act could be liable to pay restitution to low-emitting countries.
The case was instigated by law students in Vanuatu and referred to the ICJ by a decision of the UN general assembly in 2023 by 130 countries, including Australia. The opinion was hailed as a historic moment by Pacific island representatives, climate campaigners and legal academics. Vanuatu said it planned to push for a UN resolution to support its implementation.
Australia had joined other significant emitters, including the US and China, in arguing in submissions to the court that countries’ obligations were limited to complying with the 2015 Paris climate agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
…
Vanuatu climate change minister says ICJ opinion gives Pacific island nations ‘much greater leverage’ in dealing with partners such as Australia
Adam Morton Climate and environment editor
Thu 24 Jul 2025 02.10 EDT
Australia could face international legal action over its fossil fuel production and failure to rapidly cut emissions, Vanuatu’s climate minister says, after a potentially watershed declaration by the world’s top court.
An International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion published in The Hague on Wednesday found countries had a legal obligation to take measures to prevent climate change and aim to limit global heating to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, and that high-emitting countries that failed to act could be liable to pay restitution to low-emitting countries.
The case was instigated by law students in Vanuatu and referred to the ICJ by a decision of the UN general assembly in 2023 by 130 countries, including Australia. The opinion was hailed as a historic moment by Pacific island representatives, climate campaigners and legal academics. Vanuatu said it planned to push for a UN resolution to support its implementation.
Australia had joined other significant emitters, including the US and China, in arguing in submissions to the court that countries’ obligations were limited to complying with the 2015 Paris climate agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
…