MANILA – The Philippine government on Friday welcomed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion declaring that states are legally obligated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The world’s highest court ruled that states incur legal responsibility should they breach this obligation.
“The Philippines welcomes the ICJ’s advisory opinion on climate change,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
“As a Party that actively participated in the proceedings, the Philippines values the Court’s guidance on the obligation of States in international law, even beyond UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), to address the climate crisis,” it added.
In its advisory opinion issued on July 23, the ICJ said States Parties to the UNFCCC are obligated to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and that industrialized nations have the “additional obligations” to take the lead in combating climate change.
States Parties to the Paris Agreement, it said, are also obligated to cooperate, including through technology and financial transfers, to achieve the goal of limiting global warming.
The ICJ said countries that breach these obligations must make “full reparation to injured states” in the form of restitution, compensation, and satisfaction, among others.
The landmark advisory opinion follows a request from the UN General Assembly for the ICJ to render one on questions about obligations of states under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from emissions of greenhouse gases for states and for present and future generations. (PNA)