Pakistan Hails ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change Obligations

Pakistan has lauded the significant advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the obligations of nations in addressing climate change.

The opinion emphasized the lawful duties of countries under international law to tackle harm linked to climate and underscored the pressing global need to address the climate crisis.

Attorney General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, who presented Pakistan’s case before the ICJ in April, had stressed that preventing climate harm should be a shared responsibility.

He stated, “It is a duty that goes beyond borders and requires strict diligence from every country.”

The court upheld several key arguments presented by Pakistan. Firstly, the ICJ affirmed that the established principle of preventing significant environmental harm, acknowledged under international law, directly applies to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human actions. This compels nations to take robust measures to prevent environmental damage originating from activities within their territories.

Secondly, the ICJ maintained that climate agreements like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement do not supersede the broader duty of prevention under international law. Pakistan had contended that such treaties should not be considered as overriding special legal regimes.

Thirdly, the ICJ recognised the extraterritorial implementation of human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in cases where a country permits activities within its territory that negatively impact human rights beyond its borders.

This endorsement is in line with Pakistan’s argument that countries bear human rights responsibilities when their actions or failures lead to considerable climate-related harm affecting people in other countries.

Pakistan had previously submitted two written statements to the ICJ in 2024 and delivered its oral argument in April 2025.

Describing the judgment as a crucial stride forward, Pakistan urged all nations to take their climate duties seriously. As a nation significantly impacted by climate-induced events, the government urged all nations to adhere strictly to their lawful obligations and to reinforce global cooperative efforts.