The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) has delivered a blunt message to world leaders at COP30, declaring that the new International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion makes climate action a legal duty and calling for its rapid implementation.
“Climate justice is not only a moral imperative, but a legal and political necessity,” OACPS Secretary-General Moussa S. Batraki told delegates in Belém, insisting the ruling now defines clear obligations for all states.
The 79-member bloc-made up entirely of climate-vulnerable developing countries said the ICJ opinion issued in July 2025 confirms states have erga omnes duties “to protect the climate system and other components of the environment,” rooted in international law, human rights and scientific evidence.
Batraki said the opinion “is ground-breaking in many respects,” noting that it affirms the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDRRC) as a core legal benchmark guiding the interpretation of climate obligations.
He said the ruling also makes clear that states responsible for climate harm face consequences.
“Every breach triggers obligations of cessation, non-repetition and ‘full’ reparation, including restitution, compensation and/or satisfaction.”
The ICJ opinion also delivers major clarity for vulnerable island nations, confirming that maritime zones “remain unaffected by climate-change-induced sea-level rise” and that the loss of territory does not necessarily mean the loss of statehood.
Batraki urged the UN General Assembly to fully endorse the ruling and move quickly to turn its findings into action, warning that existing mechanisms do not go far enough.
At COP30, the OACPS set out its priorities for implementing the ICJ’s findings, calling for:
*Recognition that states have erga omnes duties to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
*Full operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund “as a remedy for harm already suffered.”
*Acceptance of climate reparations as a legal and moral obligation.
*Creation of an International Register of Damage and an International Mechanism for Reparation.
*A binding global fossil fuel phase-out aligned with the 1.5°C limit.
*Legal recognition of ecocide as an international crime.
*Protection of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Batraki said the ICJ had made two points unmistakably clear: “Climate change is an existential threat,” and “The 1.5°C threshold is not aspirational; it is a legal imperative.”
He said COP30 must mark a shift from debate to enforcement.
“The OACPS urges that COP30 serve as a turning point in translating the ICJ Advisory Opinion into enforceable outcomes, ensuring that climate justice is no longer deferred, but actively delivered,” Batraki said.
