|

ICJ decision a landmark moment for climate action, testament to youth leadership

What began in 2019 with a campaign led by a group of Pacific Island students has resulted in a landmark advisory opinion from the world’s highest court, outlining the obligations of countries to tackle climate change on the basis of the human right to a clean and healthy environment.

Last night, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its opinion, with the findings including:

  • All States owe binding obligations to reduce emissions under international climate agreements, international human rights law, customary international law, the law of the sea, and other relevant treaties;
  • The target of limiting global warming to 1.5C is legally binding;
  • Nations that breach their emissions obligations should provide compensation or other forms of reparation;
  • Countries could be responsible for allowing fossil fuel licenses or subsidies or failing to address fossil fuel production and consumption;
  • Nations that become inundated due to sea level rise will still retain their statehood and borders, even if their population is displaced.

Although the ICJ’s opinion is advisory in nature, it is significant in that it provides an authoritative guide for the ambition and trajectory of future climate action globally.

It is also illustrative of the extraordinary power of young people to catalyse systemic change on issues that are important to them.

The movement for the advisory opinion began with a group of Pacific Island students from the University of South Pacific in Vanuatu persuading government representatives at the United Nations to request the advisory opinion.

The ICJ’s advisory opinion is a testament to the importance of creating space and opportunity for young people to lead global action on climate change. UNICEF Australia continues to work towards this goal, supporting young people from across Australia and our region to advocate for ambitious action on climate change. 

Find out more about our work on climate change.

 To read the advisory opinion visit: https://icj-cij.org/home

24 July 2025