Global Maritime Court Rules Greenhouse Gases as Marine Pollution: Reuters Tickers

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea made a groundbreaking decision on Tuesday, ruling that greenhouse gases constitute marine pollution. This decision is a significant victory for small island nations that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming and rising sea levels.

In its first climate-related judgment, the tribunal stated that emissions from fossil fuels and other gases that contribute to global warming and are absorbed by the oceans should be considered as marine pollution. This ruling sets a precedent for future cases and emphasizes the need for countries to take action beyond the requirements of the Paris Agreement to protect the marine environment and the states that rely on it.

Ambassador Cheryl Bazard of the Bahamas, one of the nations that sought the opinion, hailed the decision as a meeting of law and science, with both coming out victorious. Small island nations, despite their limited economic power, have long felt neglected in global climate discussions, where promises to reduce emissions have often fallen short.

The court’s ruling mandates that states have a legal obligation to monitor and reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. It also sets specific requirements for environmental impact assessments and calls for emissions reduction targets to be based on the best available science and international standards, surpassing the commitments of the Paris Agreement.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda emphasized that the tribunal’s opinion will guide future legal and diplomatic efforts to combat climate change. The decision is expected to influence pending opinions on states’ climate obligations from other international courts, including the Inter-American Court on Human Rights and the International Court of Justice.

While the ruling is a significant step towards holding major polluters accountable for their contributions to climate change, challenges remain in achieving global cooperation. China, the world’s largest carbon polluter, raised objections in court, arguing against the tribunal’s authority to issue advisory opinions.

Representatives from small island nations, such as Tuvalu, welcomed the decision as a crucial step in protecting the marine environment from the threats of climate change. They emphasized the importance of all states fulfilling their legal obligations to address the existential challenges posed by global warming.

Overall, the tribunal’s decision marks a pivotal moment in international climate law and underscores the urgency of taking decisive action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable regions and ecosystems.