BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

The Hague has delivered a powerful message: the world’s most vulnerable nations now have legal standing to hold major polluters accountable. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion confirming that countries may sue each other over climate change impacts, including historical emissions.

Though the ruling isn’t binding, legal experts believe it could send ripples through courtrooms across the globe. “The ruling is a watershed legal moment,” said Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney at the Centre for International Environmental Law. “Those suffering the impacts of climate devastation have a right to remedy for climate harm, including through compensation.”

From classroom idea to global court victory

This groundbreaking case began not in a law office but in a classroom. In 2019, a group of Pacific Island law students, some of whom are from nations already losing land to rising seas, pitched the idea to bring climate accountability to the ICJ. Their vision took hold, and years later, countries like Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands led the charge.

One of those original students, Siosiua Veikune from Tonga, was in the courtroom to witness the outcome. “I’m lost for words,” he told BBC News. “This is a win we take proudly back home to our communities.”

Flora Vano of Vanuatu added, “The ICJ has recognised what we have lived through— our suffering, our resilience, and our right to our future.”

A ruling with global reach

The ICJ has broad international authority, and although its opinions are advisory, they often influence real-world policies. In fact, the UK recently agreed to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following an earlier ICJ opinion.

Now, legal teams are preparing to use this new climate ruling to spark compensation cases, not only at the ICJ but in national and international courts around the world. According to Chowdhury, countries could bring lawsuits in domestic jurisdictions, especially where major emitters like the US or China are not subject to ICJ rulings.

The case for compensation

The numbers are staggering. One study published in Nature estimated that between 2000 and 2019, climate-related damage totaled $2.8 trillion (roughly $16 million every hour).

For small nations like the Marshall Islands, the impact is devastating. “The costs to adapt are nine billion dollars,” said barrister Jennifer Robinson, who represented both the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu. “That is money the Marshall Islands does not have, for a problem they did not create.”

The court acknowledged this disparity. It ruled that developing countries are entitled to seek damages for climate-related destruction and infrastructure losses. Where recovery is not possible, for instance, when land is permanently submerged, governments may seek financial compensation.

More than just governments: companies in the crosshairs

In a critical expansion, the ICJ also stated that governments are responsible for the climate impact of corporations operating under their watch. That means actions like subsidizing fossil fuel companies or issuing new oil and gas licenses could violate international law.

Judge Iwasawa Yuji clarified that countries cannot hide behind the Paris Agreement. Even nations that never signed, or those seeking to exit, remain accountable under broader international environmental law.

Dr. Yuji also warned that falling short on climate ambition, such as failing to develop the most robust possible mitigation plans, could itself constitute a breach of international obligations.

Resistance and reality

Not everyone welcomed the ruling. Countries like the UK argued that existing climate agreements were enough. But the court rejected this stance.

Still, enforcement remains a question mark. “[The ICJ] is an institution that is subject to geopolitics— and it relies on states adhering to its judgements, it doesn’t have a police force,” noted Harj Narulla, another barrister from Doughty Street Chambers who represented the Solomon Islands.

When asked for comment, a spokesperson from the UK’s Foreign Office said the government was “taking time” to review the opinion but reaffirmed its commitment to existing UN climate frameworks. The White House echoed a more skeptical tone, referencing the current administration’s commitment to “putting America first.”

Looking ahead

Although hurdles remain, climate advocates see the ruling as a turning point. As Robinson put it, “This is going to change the face of climate advocacy.”

From a classroom dream to a court decision with global reach, this case marks a new era of legal accountability. Whether through direct litigation or quiet shifts in policy, countries and corporations alike may now have to reconsider the cost of inaction.