On 6 December 2024, Latvia made oral submissions regarding a request for an advisory opinion from the United Nations International Court of Justice in the case of the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change in accordance with Resolution of the UN General Assembly on 29 March 2023, A/RES/77/276, unanimously adopted by 132 states. By participating in these proceedings and expressing its position on the matters of global relevance, Latvia demonstrates its preparedness to contribute to addressing complicated and topical issues of international law, thereby strengthening a rules-based international order.
In response to the questions posed to the International Court of Justice in the Resolution, Latvia addressed in its submissions the obligations of States under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the duty of due diligence, pointing to the complementary nature and interaction of the various regimes. Latvia referred to the principle of prevention of significant harm to the environment, expressing a view that the findings of the International Court of Justice to date should be used to clarify the scope and content of the obligations of States. Latvia also stressed the need to secure enjoyment of human rights in the context of tackling climate change, and in conclusion, commented on the issue of State responsibility.
In the advisory proceedings held from 2 December to 13 December 2024, Latvia was represented by the Ambassador of Latvia to the Netherlands, Solvita Aboltiņa, and a member of the International Law Commission and Professor of International Public Law in the University College London, Mārtiņš Paparinskis. The representative was supported by the International Law Division of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Representative of Latvia before International Human Rights Institutions, as well as Latvian and foreign experts of public international law.
Background information
In total, 98 states and 12 international and regional organisations are taking part in oral proceedings in the case of the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, which is so far the largest number of parties involved in a case in the history of the International Court of Justice.
One of the functions of the UN International Court of Justice is to provide advisory opinions when requested by one of the organs or agencies of the United Nations referred to in the Court’s Statute. Although an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, unlike its judgments, is not legally binding, it is associated with the Court’s authority and prestige.