QUEZON CITY, July 24, 2025 –– The International Court of Justice (ICJ), informally known as the World Court, issued a landmark advisory opinion yesterday affirming that all States, especially major carbon-emitting countries and those with greater capacity, have legal obligations under international law to address climate change, protect ecosystems, and prevent foreseeable harm to other nations, particularly climate-vulnerable countries like the Philippines. 

The United Nations General Assembly, in 2023, adopted a resolution requesting for an advisory opinion from the ICJ on two questions:

  • What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the environment?
  • What are the legal consequences for States under these obligations when they cause harm to the environment?

The case was led by the Pacific Island State of Vanuatu, and was backed by over 130 countries. The ICJ voted unanimously in favor of the landmark opinion.

In response, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said:

“Developed countries are responsible for the impacts we are experiencing, and they should be held accountable for it. The World Court’s opinion further amplifies the need for urgent action from those historically responsible for climate change. 

“We are yet to see more tangible plans to reduce emissions and climate finance commitments have been long overdue. Climate-vulnerable nations have already lost one-fifth of their wealth in the last two decades, according to the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group of Finance Ministers, and the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) announced in COP29 has fallen short on what is needed to implement countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

“Now more than ever, climate finance should meet the scale of challenges faced especially by the most vulnerable, and should extend to challenges that are beyond adaptation. The cost of capital is higher in developing countries and already vulnerable countries, which adds more limitations to the funds they can allocate for climate-related actions. The science already affirms that we will continue to experience climate change impacts; hence, finance should also extend to protecting developing nations from climate- and disaster-related risks. 

“The World Court’s opinion gives climate-vulnerable nations more grounds to demand much-needed climate finance, in the sufficient scale and modality. But in addition, recipient countries are also responsible in ensuring that the resources, once mobilized, will be accounted for in the highest standards possible. In the Philippines, as we gear up for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), we hope to hear more urgency and ambition from the national government to ensure that Filipino communities are ready and equipped to act on climate change.”

ABOUT
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities is a Philippine-based non-governmental organization that advances climate, energy, and low-carbon solutions to enable fair and climate-resilient development at the national and international levels.

CONTACT
Sanaf Marcelo, ICSC: media@icsc.ngo, +63 968 886 3466, +63 917 149 5649 

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