Wed Jul 23 14:58:30 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article from The Hindu’s perspective:

**Summary:**

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion stating that nations failing to take adequate action against climate change could be in violation of international law and liable for reparations. The opinion, requested by the UN General Assembly at the urging of vulnerable island nations, was hailed by climate activists as a turning point in international climate law. The ICJ said that a “clean, healthy, and sustainable environment” is a human right. While non-binding, the decision could spur further legal actions against countries and corporations for their contribution to climate change. The opinion acknowledges historical responsibility for the climate crisis.

**News Article:**

**The Hindu: World Affairs**

**ICJ Ruling: Nations Failing on Climate Action Could Face Legal Consequences**

**The Hague, Netherlands – July 23, 2025** – In a potentially transformative decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today issued an advisory opinion stating that countries failing to adequately address climate change may be in violation of international law, and therefore liable to pay reparations. The ruling, a culmination of years of lobbying by vulnerable nations, particularly Pacific island states facing existential threats from rising sea levels, marks a significant moment in the fight against climate change.

The ICJ, acting on a request from the UN General Assembly, was tasked with clarifying nations’ obligations under international law to protect the climate and the potential legal consequences of inaction. The court’s president, Yuji Iwasawa, declared that inaction to protect the climate system “may constitute an internationally wrongful act,” emphasizing the climate crisis as an “existential problem.”

While the ICJ’s advisory opinion is non-binding, its implications are far-reaching. The court explicitly recognized a “clean, healthy, and sustainable environment” as a human right, opening avenues for further legal challenges at both international and domestic levels. This decision enables not only states returning to the ICJ to hold each other to account but also domestic lawsuits, along with legal instruments like investment agreements.

Climate activists celebrated the ruling outside the ICJ, proclaiming a victory for climate justice. Former UN human rights chief Mary Robinson called it a “powerful new tool to protect people from the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.”

“Today, the tables have turned. The world’s highest court provided us with a powerful new tool to protect people from the devastating impacts of the climate crisis — and to deliver justice for the harm their emissions have already caused,” Robinson said in a statement.

“The ICJ’s decision brings us closer to a world where governments can no longer turn a blind eye to their legal responsibilities. It affirms a simple truth of climate justice: Those who did the least to fuel this crisis deserve protection, reparations, and a future,” said Vishal Prasad, director of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change.

The ICJ’s decision comes amidst a series of legal wins for climate advocates. Similar rulings have been delivered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights, indicating a growing global trend towards holding nations accountable for their climate policies.

While countries like the US and Russia, major petroleum producers, have resisted mandated emissions reductions, the ICJ ruling underscores the rising legal risks associated with continued reliance on fossil fuels. The court acknowledged the “limited role” of international law but emphasized the need for collaboration across all fields of human knowledge to secure a sustainable future.

The Hindu will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of this developing story and its implications for India and the world.

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