Countries failing to curb greenhouse emissions could be ordered to pay reparations: UN court

Countries have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions and failing to do so could result in them being ordered to pay reparations, the International Court of Justice said in an advisory opinion on Wednesday.

The United Nations court said that international treaties on climate change “set forth binding obligations” for countries to “adopt measures with a view to contributing to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change”.

A breach of these commitments “constitutes an internationally wrongful act”, said the UN court, adding that this may lead to the violating countries being ordered to provide assurances of “non-repetition of wrongful actions”.

They may also be required to provide “full reparation to injured states in the form of restitution, compensation and satisfaction”, the international court held.

The ruling is not binding, but could pave the way for developed nations to be sued if they fail to control their emission levels, according to reports.

“This is the start of a new era of climate accountability at a global level,” Danilo Garrido, legal counsel for non-profit organisation Greenpeace, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The case originated from years of campaigning by law students from island nations in the Pacific Ocean, according to The Guardian. It was led by Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation.

Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s minister...

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