Thu Dec 05 18:28:06 UTC 2024: ## India Accuses Developed Nations of Climate Injustice at Landmark ICJ Hearing
**The Hague, Netherlands** – India delivered a scathing rebuke of developed nations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday, accusing them of historical responsibility for the climate crisis. During a landmark hearing examining the legal obligations of countries to address climate change, India argued that developed countries disproportionately benefited from fossil fuels while simultaneously hindering developing nations’ access to energy resources and failing to meet climate finance commitments.
Luther M Rangreji, India’s Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized the unequal contribution to climate change, stating that responsibility should be equally unequal. He highlighted the disparity between developed nations’ historical emissions and their superior technological and economic capacity to address the crisis, contrasting this with the disproportionate impact on developing nations like India, who contribute minimally to global warming.
Rangreji criticized the lack of action on the $100 billion climate finance pledge made by developed countries at the 2009 Copenhagen COP, calling the new package agreed upon at COP29 in Baku insufficient. He underscored India’s commitment to its Paris Agreement targets but warned against placing an undue burden on its citizens, given the scale of the country’s population and development goals.
The hearing, prompted by a UN resolution following campaigning by Pacific island nations and Vanuatu, will continue for two weeks, with 98 countries presenting their views. While non-binding, the ICJ’s advisory opinion is expected to carry significant moral and legal weight in the ongoing global climate change debate.
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