WELLINGTON: (Nov 13) At the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, Pacific Island states are making a familiar plea to keep warming at 1.5°C. But now they have the backing of a legal opinion that has transformed climate action from a moral and political aspiration into an obligation under international law.
Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion rejecting the narrow view that only specific treaties such as the Paris Agreement govern state conduct on climate change.
Instead, it presented a framework based on human rights law, the law of the sea, environmental treaties, customary international law and general principles of law to reinforce that states have a legal duty to adopt and maintain ambitious climate measures.
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