According to IGH, climate change can threaten basic human rights

The International Court of Justice (IGH) in the Haag has classified the consequences of climate change as a possible threat to basic human rights. The “negative effects of climate change” could “significantly impair the perception of certain human rights,” said court president Yuji Iwasawa on Wednesday when presenting an expert opinion on climate change. Among other things, he referred to the right to health and the right to an appropriate standard of living.

The highly expected report should in particular define the duties of the countries in combating climate change and the possible consequences of non -observance. In this context, Iwasawa referred to the duty of the federal states to “prevent significant environmental damage”. The Court of Justice believes that this obligation also applies to the earth’s climate system, “which is an integral and an integral part of the environment and has to be protected for current and future generations,” said the judge of the highest UN court.

The island state of Vanuatu, which was particularly affected by the consequences of global warming, had called for the IGH to comment on the obligation of states to reduce its greenhouse gas output. This is the question of whether large greenhouse gas causers must fear legal consequences of their climate -damaging approach and if so, which.

Although the progressive climate crisis and their catastrophic effects are known, states often cannot get through to a decisive countermen. Out of frustration, more and more individual affected people, organizations or entire states are turning to courts. According to experts, the implementation of decisions cannot be legally forced. However, climate judgments are still very important.