The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) has made a powerful appeal to global leaders at COP30, emphasizing that the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion establishes climate action as a legal obligation. OACPS Secretary-General Moussa S. Batraki addressed delegates in Belém, underlining that this ruling not only highlights the moral necessity of climate justice but also its legal and political imperatives.
Representing a group of 79 climate-vulnerable developing nations, the OACPS asserted that the ICJ’s July 2025 opinion clarifies that states possess erga omnes responsibilities to safeguard the climate and other environmental components. These obligations are grounded in international law, human rights, and scientific knowledge. Batraki described the opinion as groundbreaking, reinforcing the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDRRC) as a fundamental legal standard for interpreting climate duties.
Furthermore, the ruling indicates that states liable for climate damage will face repercussions. Batraki emphasized that any violation of these obligations necessitates actions for cessation, non-repetition, and comprehensive reparations, including restitution and compensation.
The opinion also provides significant reassurance for vulnerable island states, asserting that maritime zones will remain intact despite sea-level rise caused by climate change, thereby clarifying that territorial loss does not equate to the loss of statehood.
Batraki called on the UN General Assembly to endorse the ruling and act swiftly to implement its findings, cautioning that existing frameworks are insufficient. At COP30, the OACPS outlined critical priorities to materialize the ICJ’s conclusions, including:
– Acknowledgment of states’ duties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
– Operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund as a remedy for prior harm.
– Acceptance of climate reparations as a legal and moral duty.
– Establishment of an International Register of Damage and a mechanism for reparations.
– A binding global phase-out of fossil fuels in accordance with the 1.5°C limit.
– Legal inclusion of ecocide as an international crime.
– Upholding the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
Batraki emphasized that the ICJ has delivered clear messages: “Climate change is an existential threat,” and “The 1.5°C threshold is not aspirational; it is a legal imperative.” He urged that COP30 should transition from discussion to actual implementation, advocating for the conference to become a pivotal moment in transforming the ICJ Advisory Opinion into enforceable actions, ensuring that climate justice is pursued proactively and effectively.
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