Two historic advisory opinions issued this month by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice affirm what frontline communities and human rights advocates have long made clear: climate change is not only an environmental crisis—it is a profound human rights emergency. These rulings mark a turning point in international law, recognizing states’ legal obligations to prevent climate harm and protect the rights of present and future generations.
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, in an advisory opinion released on 3 July at the request of Chile and Colombia, laid out states’ legal obligations to confront the climate crisis through a human rights lens. The opinion emphasizes the vastly unequal impacts of climate breakdown and affirms the rights of frontline communities to redress and reparation.
Just weeks later, on the 23rd of July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) echoed this urgency, declaring climate change an “an existential threat” and confirming that greenhouse gas emissions are unequivocally caused by human activity. The ICJ’s opinion, prompted by a request from a group of youth campaigners in the Pacific Islands, reinforces that states have binding legal duties to protect the climate for not only present but also future generations.
Why does this matter? Because until now, international legal standards on climate change and human rights have been evolving across different forums, with varying interpretations of what States are required to do. These advisory opinions bring much-needed clarity and coherence. They are authoritative interpretations from the world’s highest courts: opinions that carry significant legal weight.
Importantly, both advisory opinions also clarified that states must regulate private actors whose conduct contributes to climate harm, and that the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right. As the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) noted, this ruling “ends fossil fuel impunity” and lays the groundwork for holding major polluters accountable.
Taken together, these opinions strengthen what CESR and our partners continue to champion: human rights must be at the heart of climate action. These opinions are a powerful step forward, but their full promise will only be realized if governments, institutions, and international financiers act on their guidance. As the global climate landscape evolves, CESR and our allies from all over the world will continue advancing intergenerational, rights-based climate justice.