State-Owned Oil Giants Face Legal Reckoning After ICJ Climate Judgment - CleanTechnica

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), led by Judge Yuji Iwasawa, issued a landmark advisory opinion on July 23, 2025, declaring climate change an existential threat and affirming that countries have legal responsibilities under international law to prevent significant environmental harm. While the ruling is non-binding, it carries substantial symbolic and persuasive weight, reinforcing obligations from agreements like the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The opinion states that countries failing to reduce emissions or continuing fossil fuel subsidies may be committing internationally wrongful acts, potentially incurring liability including obligations to cease harmful activities and provide reparations if causation is proven. However, the advisory nature means no direct enforcement mechanism exists, and the ruling lacks specificity on exact state actions required. This ICJ opinion is expected to significantly influence climate litigation worldwide, as domestic courts can now cite the highest international judicial authority to demand increased governmental climate action. A key focus is on state-owned petroleum companies such as Saudi Aramco, Gazprom