Yesterday small island states secured a climate win at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), effectively the world court for the ocean. The opinion clarifies states’ obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) with respect to impacts from anthropogenic climate change on the marine environment. The advisory opinion from judges at ITLOS focused on whether countries have legal responsibilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is the first time an international court has released an advisory opinion related to climate change and oceans. With sectors such as international shipping currently off course, states urgently need to put in place effective policies to meet these legal obligations,” Kay said.

Source: International New York Times May 22, 2024 12:28 UTC