The United Nations’ top court has found countries across the globe have a legal duty to tackle climate change — at a time when the U.S. is pulling back from both climate action and U.N. organizations.
In a landmark decision announced Wednesday, the International Court of Justice found that a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right and countries could be in violation of international law if they do not do their part.
The low-lying Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, which initiated the case, hailed the unanimous decision as a milestone for addressing climate change — and as a method to attain relief from major carbon-emitting countries.
“Even as fossil fuel expansion continues under the U.S.’s influence, along with … the lack of climate ambition … major polluters — past and present — cannot continue to act with impunity and treat developing countries as sacrifice zones to further feed corporate greed,” said Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s minister for climate change, who celebrated the ruling on the courthouse steps.
