Climate Justice Proceedings at the ICJ

The document outlines contrasting legal positions between major polluting States and a majority of other participants concerning the ICJ's Advisory Opinion on climate change. It focuses on whether the UN climate regime is the exclusive source of law, the binding nature of mitigation and adaptation obligations, the applicability of the transboundary harm principle, the role of human rights law, the rights of future generations, and the legal necessity of phasing out fossil fuels. It further examines the issues of State knowledge of climate risks since the 1960s, the possibility of attributing harm to specific States, and the resulting legal consequences, including reparations and cessation of harmful conduct.

• A significant legal conflict exists over whether the UN climate regime (UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement) is the sole source of State obligations. Major polluters like the United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Kuwait argue the regime is 'lex specialis', meaning specialized law that takes precedence over general international law. Conversely, a majority of States, including Chile and Vanuatu, assert that multiple concurrent sources of law apply, including customary international environmental law and human rights law.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Climate Justice Proceedings at the ICJ. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Climate-Justice-Proceedings-at-the-ICJ_Top-Arguments_December-2024.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Climate Justice Proceedings at the ICJ. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Climate-Justice-Proceedings-at-the-ICJ_Top-Arguments_December-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Climate Justice Proceedings at the ICJ |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Climate-Justice-Proceedings-at-the-ICJ_Top-Arguments_December-2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndclimate, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Climate Justice Proceedings at the ICJ}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Climate-Justice-Proceedings-at-the-ICJ_Top-Arguments_December-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }