The United States has been condemned by climate justice campaigners after arguing against countries being legally obliged to combat the climate crisis in an international court hearing. The US intervention came as part of a historic climate hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, where island nations and other climate-vulnerable countries are seeking legal accountability from wealthy polluting nations.
Climate disasters are wreaking havoc across the planet, with current pledges failing to curb global temperatures. However, the US is resisting efforts to increase production of renewable energy and instead supports existing non-binding treaties that it claims are the best way forward. The US maintains that these treaties provide clear obligations for states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate justice activists, including representatives from Oxfam America and Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, have reacted strongly against the US stance. They argue that the country is shirking its responsibility as one of the world’s largest polluters and that existing treaties are inadequate.
Other major fossil fuel economies, such as Australia, China, and Saudi Arabia, also opposed legal accountability. The ICJ advisory opinion will provide guidance on what obligations states have to tackle climate change and may carry significant weight in future climate litigation.
The hearing is part of a wider effort by vulnerable nations and the global climate justice movement to elevate science into international law and ensure transformative action against climate breakdown. Climate experts say that existing treaties are essential but cannot be used as an excuse for inaction. The ICJ ruling will likely take months to deliver, but the significance of this hearing has been underscored by the involvement of over 100 countries and organizations in the proceedings.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/04/us-climate-crisis-legal-court