Climate Breakfast Seminar Series
The ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently deliberating on a historic advisory opinion regarding states’ legal obligations to address climate change. This opinion is expected to clarify states’ duties under international law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate system for present and future generations.
While national courts have increasingly ruled on climate-related cases, international precedents remain limited. Notable exceptions include the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Klimaseniorinnen and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Advisory Opinion, which affirmed states’ responsibility to take all necessary measures to mitigate emissions and assist developing nations in combating climate-related harm.
Although ICJ advisory opinions are non-binding, they carry significant legal and political weight, potentially guiding state behaviour, shaping international legal norms, and influencing future climate litigation. This talk will explore how the ICJ’s opinion could strengthen state accountability and contribute to the evolution of international climate law.
About the speaker
Jacques Hartmann holds a PhD from Cambridge University, where he also worked as Research Associate at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law. He has taught international and human rights law in various capacities at universities in the UK, including Durham, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as overseas, and is currently External Lecturer at La Sabana University, Colombia. Prior to joining Dundee University, Jacques worked as Legal Officer at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing Denmark at diplomatic conferences and before the International Court of Justice. He has experience collaborating with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Register for the seminar. Zoom link is provided upon registration.