The United Nations' top court has declared that failing to curb emissions violates international law, marking a historic moment for global climate justice and setting the stage for future legal action against polluting states.
In a landmark advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Wednesday that countries must act collectively and ambitiously to address the 'urgent and existential threat' of climate change.
The court stated that under international law, the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is essential for the enjoyment of other human rights.
“Greenhouse gas emissions are unequivocally caused by human activities which are not territorially limited,” said Judge Yuji Iwasawa as he read the court’s opinion in The Hague.
He emphasized that nations are obligated to cooperate and implement “concrete emission reduction targets,” in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 1.5°C.
Though the opinion is non-binding, legal experts see it as a powerful tool for future environmental litigation. Danilo Garrido of Greenpeace called it “the start of a new era of climate accountability at a global level.”
The case, initiated by the UN General Assembly after lobbying from Vanuatu and backed by over 130 nations, asked the ICJ to clarify states’ legal duties on emissions and consequences for climate inaction.
While small island and developing nations called for binding rules and financial support, wealthier states pointed to existing, largely non-binding agreements like the Paris Accord.
With nearly 3,000 climate lawsuits worldwide and global warming on track to exceed 3°C by 2100, campaigners say the ruling reinforces legal grounds for holding countries and corporations accountable.
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy and water systems, combined with damaged homes and rising living costs, could force more people to flee t...
The AnewZ documentary “Counterpoint: Two Centuries of German-Azerbaijani Shared History” investigates the story of German settlers who ...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that a potential meeting between Ukraine, the United States and Russia could take place du...
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It comes after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people last week.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continuing from Russia and Ukraine as media reports say Ukraine has almost run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions with Washington over energy strikes and U.S. military support.
An unknown projectile struck a tanker 68 nautical miles northeast of Saudi Arabia on Friday according to a report released by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday.
France is preparing for a fresh wave of nationwide demonstrations this weekend as rising living costs, education concerns and growing political tensions converge into one of the most significant protest movements seen in the country in recent years.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 15 October 2026, featuring the top five culture and entertainment stories from around the world.
Türkiye’s COP31 presidency has unveiled an action agenda designed to turn climate commitments into concrete projects and measurable results, focusing on clean energy, waste reduction, resilient cities and industrial decarbonisation.
Greenland and Antarctica have shed a combined 11.3 trillion tonnes of ice since 1979, according to the most comprehensive satellite study of the planet's ice sheets to date, with researchers warning the pace of loss has accelerated sharply in recent decades.
The European Union will continue allowing large-scale plastic waste exports to Türkiye despite concerns over recycling rates, environmental damage and the risk of illegal waste trafficking.
Hundreds of thousands of deep-diving turtles, known as olive ridley sea turtles, have arrived on Mexico’s southern coast for one of nature’s most striking nesting events. But conservation officials warn that climate change is making it increasingly difficult for their eggs to hatch.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment