ISLAMABAD, July 25, 2025 – Pakistan has hailed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark advisory opinion on states’ legal obligations to combat climate change, calling it a historic reaffirmation of international law in addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges.
The ICJ on Wednesday declared that states have a legal duty to address the “urgent and existential threat” of climate change, including curbing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing environmental harm beyond their borders. The Court also signaled that failure to meet these obligations could lead to climate-related litigation by affected nations.
Pakistan’s Key Role at the ICJ Hearings
In a statement issued Thursday, the Government of Pakistan said the ICJ’s opinion echoes Islamabad’s legal arguments and reinforces core principles of environmental justice.
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, who delivered Pakistan’s oral submissions before the ICJ in April 2025, had emphasized that “preventing significant environmental harm is a duty that transcends borders and demands diligence from every state.”
Pakistan also filed two detailed written statements in 2024, outlining its stance on states’ responsibilities under international environmental law.
The ICJ affirmed several of Pakistan’s arguments, ruling that:
✅ The customary international law principle of preventing significant harm applies directly to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
✅ UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement do not override broader international obligations to prevent environmental damage.
✅ States have extraterritorial human rights responsibilities when their activities cause harm abroad, including climate-related impacts.
This aligns with Pakistan’s view that nations causing climate harm are accountable for resulting human rights violations in other countries.
A Victory for Climate Justice
“As one of the countries most affected by climate-induced disasters,” Islamabad said, “Pakistan urges all nations to rigorously meet their legal obligations and enhance global cooperation for mitigation and adaptation.”
The ICJ ruling was celebrated by environmental groups worldwide as a win for climate-vulnerable nations, including small island states and low-lying countries at risk from rising sea levels.
The opinion stems from a request by the UN General Assembly, which sought clarity on:
1️⃣ What are states’ obligations to prevent greenhouse gas emissions under international law?
2️⃣ What legal consequences follow if they fail to protect the climate system?
Developing nations had demanded stronger, potentially legally binding measures, while wealthy nations argued that existing non-binding climate treaties like the Paris Agreement should remain the main reference.
The ruling comes amid alarming UN reports predicting that current climate policies will lead to over 3°C of warming by 2100, far beyond safe limits.
Climate litigation is also on the rise, with nearly 3,000 cases filed in 60 countries, holding governments and corporations accountable for environmental harm.
