IN A NUTSHELL Climate Advisory Proceedings: Why Big Polluters’ Most Dangerous Arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Fail

The briefing counters arguments from 'big polluters' regarding the ICJ's climate advisory proceedings, asserting that the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement do not displace customary international law, human rights obligations, or the duty to prevent transboundary harm. It argues that states have a legal obligation to phase out fossil fuels to meet these duties and that historical emissions since the 1960s are legally relevant due to scientific foreseeability. The document concludes that states must be held responsible for climate-related injuries through cessation of wrongful conduct and reparations, which could include debt cancellation and ecosystem restoration.

• The UN climate regime, including the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, does not replace or limit pre-existing international legal duties, such as the obligation to prevent significant transboundary environmental harm and human rights violations.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). IN A NUTSHELL Climate Advisory Proceedings: Why Big Polluters’ Most Dangerous Arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Fail. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/In-a-Nutshell-Climate-Advisory-Proceedings-Why-Big-Polluters-Most-Dangerous-Arguments-to-the-International-Court-of-Justice-ICJ-Fail.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. IN A NUTSHELL Climate Advisory Proceedings: Why Big Polluters’ Most Dangerous Arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Fail. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/In-a-Nutshell-Climate-Advisory-Proceedings-Why-Big-Polluters-Most-Dangerous-Arguments-to-the-International-Court-of-Justice-ICJ-Fail.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=IN A NUTSHELL Climate Advisory Proceedings: Why Big Polluters’ Most Dangerous Arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Fail |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/In-a-Nutshell-Climate-Advisory-Proceedings-Why-Big-Polluters-Most-Dangerous-Arguments-to-the-International-Court-of-Justice-ICJ-Fail.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndnutshell, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{IN A NUTSHELL Climate Advisory Proceedings: Why Big Polluters’ Most Dangerous Arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Fail}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/In-a-Nutshell-Climate-Advisory-Proceedings-Why-Big-Polluters-Most-Dangerous-Arguments-to-the-International-Court-of-Justice-ICJ-Fail.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }