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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Isabella Kaminski in The Hague

Nations who fail to curb fossil fuels could be ordered to pay reparations, top UN court rules

Bleached coral on Nguna Island, Vanuatu
Bleached coral on Nguna Island, Vanuatu. The island nation was at the forefront of the campaign that led to the advisory opinion. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

States must tackle fossil fuels, the world’s top court has ruled, and failing to prevent harm to the climate could result in them being ordered to pay reparations.

In a landmark advisory opinion published on Wednesday, the international court of justice (ICJ) said countries must prevent harm to the climate system and that failing to do so could result in their having to pay compensation and make other forms of restitution.

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