ICJ climate advisory opinion drives new legal and policy actions worldwide

On 23 July 2025 the International Court of Justice issued a historic advisory opinion stating that all states have a legal duty under international law to protect the climate and limit greenhouse‑gas emissions. Although the opinion is not binding, it carries significant moral and legal authority and is being used to shape climate litigation, public‑finance decisions and international negotiations.

The United Nations General Assembly later endorsed the opinion in May 2026, with 141 votes in favour and eight countries—including the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel—voting against. Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu, led by youth group Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, have highlighted the ruling’s implications for fossil‑fuel subsidies and national climate‑policy accountability.

In Indonesia, scholars note that the ruling underscores the erga omnes nature of climate obligations and the need for a comprehensive climate law, warning that inadequate Nationally Determined Contributions could be deemed unlawful under the new standard of due‑diligence.