Earthjustice Applauds Significant International Human Rights Ruling on Climate Change

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued its Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights today, a historic milestone in the international response to the climate crisis. The ruling details the obligations governments have under international law to protect human rights from the impacts of climate change.

This ruling is the most comprehensive statement in history by an international human rights court analyzing the link between climate change and the threats it poses to human rights. It clarifies measures that countries must take to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and other pollutants that contribute to global warming.

The Inter-American Court is a human rights body of the Organization of American States. Its rulings are important interpretations of international human rights norms and are legally binding for many governments in the Western Hemisphere. Earthjustice submitted an amicus brief in December 2023 and participated in public hearings in April 2024 in contribution to the court’s Advisory Opinion.

In its Advisory Opinion, the court underscored that countries must set greenhouse gas mitigation goals that are as ambitious as possible, reflect the maximum use of their available resources, and increase reductions incrementally. Emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the climate emergency, the court was clear that these mitigation strategies must include measures to progressively reduce carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels.

The following is a statement from Earthjustice Vice President of Litigation for Lands, Wildlife, and Oceans, Drew Caputo:

“The Inter-American Court’s ruling makes clear that climate change is an overriding threat to human rights in the world. Governments must act to cut carbon emissions drastically. While the United States and some other major polluters have chosen to ignore climate science, the rest of the international community is advancing protections for all from the realities of climate harm. We applaud the court’s bold leadership and hope it encourages more governments rapidly to abandon dirty fossil fuels. We must work urgently to adopt clean and renewable sources of energy in a just transition that respects and advances human rights.”