With its modest size and population, the Pacific nation of Vanuatu has propelled the global fight against climate change to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The case seeks to determine if nations have a legal obligation to prevent climate catastrophe and what consequences they should face for failing to act.
Supported by around 90 countries, the case has been hailed as a historic moment for climate accountability. However, nations like the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia argue that existing international agreements, such as the Paris Accord, already address the issue despite these frameworks failing to curb rising emissions.
Since the 1992 Earth Summit, global leaders have pledged to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with the climate. Yet, emissions continue to rise, and the world is on track to breach the critical 1.5°C threshold—potentially surpassing 3°C by the century’s end. With time running out, the ICJ case underscores the urgent need for unprecedented global action to prevent catastrophic warming. Read More
News Credit: The New Yorker
Picture Credit: Young villagers play in the Pacific Ocean, on the island of Tanna, in Vanuatu, in 2019.Mario Tama