Report No.264: The International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: A New Mandate for Climate Security

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This report examines the historic advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 23, 2025. The opinion reframes climate change as not just an environmental challenge, but a defining issue for human rights and global security. Sparked by the voices of Pacific youth and the lived realities of vulnerable nations, the ICJ’s opinion sends a clear message: climate action is now a legal obligation, not a policy preference. The advisory opinion is a watershed moment. It lays a powerful legal foundation for climate action rooted in justice, cooperation, and human security. But legal clarity is just the beginning. Real progress means weaving these principles into policy, practice, and everyday decisions—especially for those most at risk. The ICJ ruling offers a vision of climate protection as the bedrock of sustainable peace and security for generations to come.