India calls out rich nations over climate inaction at ICJ

During landmark hearings to form a so-called “advisory opinion” on the obligations of states regarding climate change held at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), India sharply criticised developed countries for their role in causing the climate crisis.

On the heels of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, the ICJ is deliberating on the matter, and its advisory opinion is to be announced in due course.

India has accused the developed nations of exploiting the global carbon budget, failing to honour climate-finance commitments, and unfairly demanding that developing countries curb their resource use.

The Court is currently assessing the legal obligations countries have to address climate change and the repercussions if they fail. The climate finance issue was brought before the ICJ due to the persistent failure of developed nations to fulfill their climate finance promises.

India also urged the ICJ to avoid imposing new obligations beyond the existing climate-change framework. “The Court should avoid the creation of any new or additional obligations beyond those already existing under the climate change regime,” India’s representative Luther Rangreji told the ICJ.

The country emphasized that any considerations should account for historic emissions, climate justice, the principle of equity, and the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), as well as equitable access to the global carbon budget. Stressing the principle of fairness and equity, India argued, “If the contribution to global environmental degradation is unequal, the responsibility should also be unequal.”

Upgrading $100 billion per year in climate finance, pledged at the 2009 Copenhagen summit was a significant commitment, but it remains far from being fully realised.

Following the recent climate finance agreement reached at the COP29 United Nations (UN) climate change conference in Baku, wealthier nations committed to allocating $300 billion annually to support developing countries by the year 2035. The actual funding requirement is $1.3 trillion annually. (Modern Diplomacy)

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