In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice declared that failure to act on climate change can be an “internationally wrongful act”—meaning countries could face legal consequences for harming the planet.

The U.N.'s top court was due to set out a non-binding legal opinion on the extent of legal and financial responsibility countries have for climate change.

International Court of Justice determines countries are responsible for corporate emissions and must cooperate to achieve concrete emission reduction targets.

A decade since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, two big outstanding questions have delayed action: Who is responsible for climate change and who should pay?

Rachel Reeves, beware. Britain could soon be facing yet more eye-watering demands for reparations. But not just because of all the slaves our distant ancestors owned. Now we could be sued for all the coal they burned.

Nations must protect current and future generations from environmental harm, says the International Court of Justice.

In a landmark advisory opinion on July 23, the International Court of Justice said all countries have significant legal responsibilities to prevent further climate harm by slashing their climate pollution rapidly.