The United Nations’ top court on Monday starts hearings on the legal obligation of countries to fightand the consequences for states of contributing to global warming, the outcome of which could influence litigation worldwide.
While the court’s advisory opinions are not binding, they are legally and politically significant. Experts say the court’s eventual opinion on climate change will likely be cited in climate change-driven lawsuits in courts from Europe to Latin America and beyond. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change and the environment, said it was imperative fossil fuels be phased out and more money provided to poorer nations bearing the brunt of climate change, such as his Pacific island nation.