The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a unanimous opinion on July 23, 2025, that climate change is "an existential problem of planetary proportions that imperils all forms of life and the very health of our planet.

It's been hailed as a "planetary scale" win for climate advocates pushing for stronger action against carbon pollution.The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared nations have an obligation under international law to prevent climate change — and that they may be liable to pay compensation if they fail to do so.

The ruling was the result of years of efforts by activists and small island nations and initiated by Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, a group of young Pacific Islanders facing the existential threat of rising sea levels,

The International Court of Justice, the top United Nations court, decided Wednesday that countries would be violating international law if they fail to do their part to protect the planet.

The International Court of Justice’s ruling that countries have a legal duty to curb climate change was the result of a yearslong campaign that began with university students.

Countries have very strong obligations under international law to cut climate pollution and prevent significant harm to the global climate that sustains human life.

The world's top court will Wednesday deliver a landmark ruling laying out what legal obligations countries have to prevent climate change and whether polluters should pay up for the consequences.Major polluters,