The International Court of Justice’s landmark advisory opinion on climate change has come in handy for South African communities that are trying to stop global oil company Shell from drilling for oil and gas off the coast.
The opinion, handed down by the world’s highest court in July 2025, sets out what all governments are legally required to do to tackle climate change. It confirmed that:
All states have a duty to prevent activities within their jurisdiction from causing significant climate harm.
States must phase out fossil fuels to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C above pre-industrial times. This includes regulating private companies, such as fossil fuel corporations, to drive their pollution levels down.
