December 7, 2024
Opinion Story
by Tara Malhotra
"Tara Talks" Recurring Column
What happens when the most powerful court in the world starts punishing countries for their greenhouse gas emissions? If governments do not fix their ways, the court could be dealing with one of the biggest humanitarian disasters in history.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, is the highest judicial body in the world. Part of the United Nations and located in The Hague, Netherlands, the court is comprised of 15 judges who resolve disputes between countries.
Beginning on Dec. 9, the ICJ started to hear arguments about global warming for the first time to decide if international law should hold countries accountable for contributing to climate change. According to the New York Times, over 100 countries and organizations showed up for the landmark court case.
To make the most of their time, the ICJ set strict rules for the case. Countries were banned from making political speeches that only promoted their political agendas. Alternatively, they were required to explain why they continue to burn fossil fuels and produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This condition highlights the importance of accountability and transparency from polluters.
It is about time the ICJ considers climate change a threat to international security. In 2023, the World Health Organization reported that 3.6 billion people live in areas directly affected by climate change, leading to 400,000 deaths annually (from flooding, storms, fires, extreme heat, etc.). I believe these numbers prove that climate change is a human rights crisis, and thus countries need to face severe consequences when they exacerbate the illnesses and deaths that accompany a warming planet.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change and environment, has helped lead the ICJ case because the country is especially prone to sinking from sea level rise.
“I choose my words carefully when I say that this may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity. Let us not allow future generations to look back and wonder why the cause of their doom was condoned,” Regenvanu said to the New York Times.
This case is a step in the right direction toward reversing global warming. With the ICJ opinion set to be released next year, I hope it will compel polluters to improve their practices, preventing climate change from harming more people around the world.
A photo of representatives from Vanuatu at the ICJ case. Photo courtesy of Reuters.