Top UN court to begin hearings on landmark climate change case

Countries and organisations will make submissions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on the legal obligations of countries to fight climate change. Photograph: Vlad Sokhin/World Bank

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to begin hearings in a landmark climate change case on Monday, examining what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations fight its devastating impact.

After years of lobbying by island nations, the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ last year for an opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.”