The Green Rights Coalition has submitted an amicus curiae brief to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in response to the United Nations General Assembly's request for an advisory opinion on States’ obligations regarding climate change (resolution 77/276, 29 March 2023).
This contribution, co-signed by more than a hundred dedicated young volunteers and ambassadors of the Green Rights Coalition from 34 different countries, is presented on behalf of the global youth.
The submission invites the Court to affirm the legal value of environmental rights, particularly the right of future generations and the right to a healthy environment. It urges the Court to leverage these environmental rights as legal ground for establishing States’ obligations and responsibilities related to climate change.
Among these obligations, the submission calls the Court to enshrine procedural obligations (for example, the obligation to inform the public about climate change) and substantive obligations (for example, the obligation to take national measures against climate change).
Additionally, on the subject of liability, the submission advocates for the recognition of a right of action for individuals against States before national courts, enabling them to hold states accountable through national courts to ensure compliance with international environmental obligations.
Our Amicus curiae brief is available to download free of charge. For your convenience, you will also find a summary of our arguments in a few pages, as well as the accompanying press release.
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