By Marco Lopez
Uncle Sam’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement (for the second time) under President Donald J. Trump does not immunize the country from being held accountable for climate harm. Despite the fictions the orange guy formulates under his wig, and by the looks of MAGA’s “drill, baby, drill” agenda, they will be answerable for much more of the climate fallout to come.
Maybe I started here because of the mind-numbing speech DJT gave at the United Nations 80th session of the General Assembly.
The advisory opinion handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligation of states in respect of climate change on July 23, 2025, clarifies the duty of all countries to prevent harm to the environment, regardless of their membership in the Paris Agreement or any other climate treaty, for that matter.
The ruling further enshrines the right to a healthy environment – states are legally obliged to protect and prevent harm to the environment – and to take action to reduce climate and greenhouse gas emissions.
A total of 91 written statements and 62 written comments were filed with the registrar of the ICJ by states and international organizations – the “highest level of participation in a proceeding” in the history of the court. For only the fifth time in its eighty-year history, the court was able to hand down a unanimous Advisory Opinion.
This case also has the potential to change the global health landscape – to finally accept and acknowledge climate change as the greatest threat to human health, as identified by the World Health Organization.
This advisory opinion gives countries that have been victims of climate change impacts a legal recourse and reparations, while countries that have caused climate harm and environmental damage must answer for their modern and historical actions and omissions.
While still challenging, using climate science in a court case will set necessary precedents. Climate change can already be linked to economic and biodiversity loss, decline in health, loss of livelihoods and heritage, and a long list of damages. Moreover, the most vulnerable countries are among those first impacted – and these countries require resources to fund their climate mitigation and adaptation needs, not requests but repayments and reparations.
