International Court Of Justice Rules Climate Change Is "Existential Threat" - CleanTechnica

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), a United Nations body, issued a landmark advisory opinion on July 23, 2025, declaring climate change an “existential threat” that demands urgent global action. The Court emphasized that states have a legal obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, honor international climate agreements, and protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa underscored that human activities are unequivocally responsible for emissions causing cross-border harm, and failure to act may constitute an internationally wrongful act. The Court also recognized a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” as a human right, aligning with similar constitutional provisions in some states, such as Montana. While the ruling is advisory and not legally binding, it places a clear duty on countries to implement binding measures consistent with climate treaties, particularly urging industrialized nations to lead due to their historical emissions. The Court called for national climate plans to be “progressive” and ambitious enough to limit global warming to 1