Top U.N. Court Says Countries Must Act on Climate Change
By Karen Zraick and Marlise Simons
New York Times
July 23, 2025
The International Court of Justice called global warming an “urgent and existential threat” at a closely watched case in The Hague.
The International Court of Justice issued a strongly worded opinion on Wednesday saying that states must protect people from the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change, a major moment for the global environmental movement and for the countries at greatest risk of harm.
It was the first time that the court, which is the United Nations’ highest judicial body, has weighed in on climate change.