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World Court to hold hearings in case that may define countries' climate responsibilities

The International Court of Justice stated on Friday it would hold public hearings starting Dec. 2 in an advisory viewpoint case that may end up being a reference point in specifying nations' legal commitments to eliminate climate change.

The ICJ, referred to as the World Court, is the United Nations' highest court for dealing with worldwide conflicts. In 2023, the U.N. General Assembly asked it for an official viewpoint on questions consisting of whether large states that add to greenhouse-gas emissions might be liable for damages caused to small island nations.

While the ICJ's advisory viewpoints are not binding under worldwide law, they are significant legally and politically. The opinion on environment modification, anticipated in 2025, will likely be pointed out in thousands of climate-driven lawsuits pending in courts all over the world.

In a declaration on Friday, the court stated 62 nations and organizations consisting of Australia, Brazil, the European Union, Grenada, Japan, Micronesia, the Philippines, Seychelles, United Kingdom, United States and Vanuatu had filed composed remarks by an Aug. 15 due date.

The ICJ viewpoint will follow others at global courts, consisting of a judgment by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in May that found greenhouse gases are marine pollution and that nations should secure oceans.

A case similar to the ICJ case is also pending at the Inter-American Court of Human Being Rights, which has jurisdiction over 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries.

(source: Reuters)