Fury as US argues against climate obligations at top UN court
US says current climate rules are satisfactory, prompting condemnation from activists and vulnerable countries
Nina Lakhani and agencies
Wed 4 Dec 2024 15.17 EST
Climate justice campaigners have condemned the US after the world’s largest historic greenhouse gas emitter argued against countries being legally obliged to combat the climate crisis.
The US intervention came on Wednesday as part of the historic climate hearing at the international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague, where island nations and other climate-vulnerable countries are calling for wealthy polluting nations most responsible for climate breakdown to be held legally responsible.
Climate disasters are wreaking havoc across the planet, with dwindling hope of the current climate pledges curtailing global temperatures as the US and other fossil fuel nations continue to expand production.
Yet according to the US, the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) and 2015 Paris agreement and other existing non-binding treaties should be preserved and are the best way forward.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/04/us-climate-crisis-legal-court
