Posted on July, 23 2025
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (23 July 2025) – History was made at the Peace Palace today: for the first time ever, the world Court clarified countries due diligence duties to protect the earth’s climate system. The Court further agreed that communities and ecosystems should also be protected and harm to them triggers obligations of restoration or compensation. It is a major signal of hope for the most vulnerable populations and for all ecosystems and species of the planet, according to WWF.
The International Court of Justice recognised clear obligations of states to avoid impacts of greenhouse gas emissions to the climate system and to nature, affirming the essential connection between healthy ecosystems and climate stability - a key consideration that WWF highlighted to the Court in its submission.
The landmark advisory opinion, while non-binding, carries considerable legal and moral authority and provides key parameters for interpreting legal responsibilities.
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead and COP20 President, said: "This decision provides the legal clarity the world has been waiting for. The Court rightly acknowledged that climate change is a common concern of mankind and that a healthy environment is the foundation for the health and wellbeing of people. This advisory opinion could have far-reaching implications for national decisions and future legal actions demanding that states fulfill their climate obligations, as well as ensuring nature and ecosystem integrity.”
The advisory opinion marks the culmination of an extraordinary legal journey that began with Pacific Island law students. Despite contributing less than 0.01% of global emissions, nations like Vanuatu and Tuvalu face existential threat from rising seas. Under Vanuatu's leadership pursued by the students, 132 nations asked the ICJ to clarify: What are States' obligations to protect the climate from greenhouse gas emissions? And what are the legal consequences for failing to act? The case generated unprecedented engagement - 91 written statements, the highest participation in ICJ history. The advisory opinion itself runs to 133 pages, taking the court’s President two hours to read it out.
Fernanda de Carvalho, WWF Global Climate and Energy Policy Head, said: "Today's opinion sends a clear signal to governments and businesses alike that climate action must be comprehensive, with protecting nature and ecosystems at its heart. This advisory opinion sheds much needed light on states responsibilities to protect the climate system and the environment in a time when these are under threat.”
Alec Hutchings, WWF UK’s Chief Climate Adviser, said: “WWF’s submission to the Court emphasised the inextricable link between climate change and nature loss. Nature slows global warming as it absorbs around half of our climate emissions. Yet critical ecosystems are now severely threatened by the very crisis they help mitigate. WWF argued that nature is not only threatened by climate change - it is essential for addressing it.”
The ICJ opinion comes as the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil. This framework for legal interpretation of States obligations will help guide more effective and integrated responses to our planetary crisis.
“The people of the world will be watching how countries respond to this advisory opinion by the Court. We urge governments to immediately begin to revise their national climate plans, well before COP30, so we can put the world safely on the path to limiting global warming to 1.5℃. We must seize this moment to do better, and protect people and the planet,” said Pulgar-Vidal.
Ends
Media Contact: news@wwfint.org OR Mandy Woods mwoods@wwfint.org
