This year, communities, climate activists, and organisations have celebrated victory after victory, from driving change locally to being heard in international courts. A recent decision from the world's highest ocean court, in a case brought by small island states threatened by rising sea levels caused by global heating, marks a major breakthrough. It paves the way for addressing climate change through existing international frameworks and reinforces States' responsibilities to act on climate change.
In its first climate-related judgement, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) found that greenhouse gases absorbed by oceans constitute marine pollution, and governments must "take all necessary measures to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution" related to climate change. It added that countries must go beyond the requirements of the landmark 2015 Paris climate agreement to protect the marine environment and the states that depend on it.
The ruling is a huge victory. It follows the landmark victory of the KlimaSeniorinnen at the European Court of Human Rights decision, and the historical climate hearings at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights this year. It also sets the stage for the upcoming hearings that will take place at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). These international courts and tribunals will clarify the obligations of States to act on climate change under international law for decades to come.
