On July 23, the International Court of Justice provided its Advisory Opinion on climate change, making clear that states most responsible for the crisis have a legal obligation to protect current and future generations by cutting emissions and providing reparations for those affected.
Chuck Baclagon, 350.org Asia Finance Campaigner says:
“The International Court of Justice now adds legal weight to what is already a moral certainty: the richest nations who bear the greatest responsibility for the climate crisis owe a debt to the rest of the world, especially the billions of people in Asia living in the danger zone. In light of the ICJ’s ruling, world leaders must now act to ensure that climate finance is enough to meet the realities faced by the most vulnerable nations who did the least to cause this crisis. It must fund not just adaptation, but also resilience against the storms and heatwaves we now know will keep coming.
But we cannot afford to stop there. Justice isn’t just about repairing harm—it’s about building the conditions where dignity and possibility can flourish, even in a warming world. Rich nations must support low-carbon development pathways that let vulnerable countries in Asia not only survive, but thrive. Urgent, deliberate decarbonization is the only way to ensure a livable future.
While the ICJ’s opinion gives vulnerable nations firmer ground to demand what they’re owed, that responsibility doesn’t end with donor countries. Recipient governments in Asia must also ensure that every cent of climate finance is used transparently, effectively, and in service of the people most at risk.
This includes the Philippine government, host of the Loss and Damage Fund. As President Ferdinand Marcos faces the Filipino people in his State of the Nation Address, we hope to hear not just rhetoric, but a concrete plan that reflects the urgency of the climate crisis, as well as reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and genuine engagement with the people—ensuring that climate action responds to their needs and is no longer undermined by institutional corruption.”
Media Contact:
- Ilang-Ilang Quijano, Asia Communications Manager, [email protected]