World’s biggest climate case begins in The Hague

Oral arguments will be heard by the International Court of Justice ( ICJ ) The case begins less than two weeks after negotiations collapsed at the UN ’s annual climate conference, COP29 , in Azerbaijan .

The court will consider what obligations United Nations member states have under international law to protect the planet from greenhouse gas emissions for future generations.

This week ’s oral arguments could illuminate what big polluters really think about being legally liable for their greenhouse gas emissions.

The ICJ ruling could help clarify what the barriers to climate action are.

Vanuatu attorney general: “We are doing this for the benefit of the global community.”.