The ICJ just raised the stakes on climate action – Malaysia must step up

Vanuatu's Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu (centre) delivering a speech at a demonstration ahead of the ICJ session that issued the first advisory opinion on countries' legal obligations to address climate change, in The Hague on July 23, 2025. — AFP

THE International Court of Justice (ICJ) has sent a strong message to the world: taking serious action on climate change is not just a good idea – it is a legal duty. 

In a landmark advisory opinion released on July 23, 2025, the ICJ confirmed that countries have clear obligations under international law to protect people and the planet from the impacts of climate change. These responsibilities go beyond the Paris Agreement – they are rooted in broader legal duties that all nations must uphold.