Sri Lanka has joined over 100 countries and international organizations in a landmark lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, addressing the responsibility of major polluters in the global climate crisis.
The case, initially brought by the State of Vanuatu through the United Nations General Assembly in March 2023, focuses on the disproportionate impact of climate change on island nations. Sri Lanka, represented by Attorney General Parindra Ranasinghe, has outlined how the country has suffered significant harm due to greenhouse gas emissions from major industrial nations.
In his submission, Ranasinghe emphasized Sri Lanka’s position under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement of 2016, which holds states accountable for their role in exacerbating the climate crisis. The lawsuit identifies the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Norway, China, Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait as the leading contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The ICJ’s 15 judges will assess the legal obligations of these countries under international law to protect the climate and the environment. Sri Lanka’s Attorney General also referenced international conventions on health, arguing that the right to health is intrinsically linked to the right to a safe, clean, and sustainable environment, which is a fundamental human right.
Ranasinghe noted that states must not allow their territories to be used for actions that violate the rights of other nations, citing the sovereign principle of territorial integrity. He also referred to international treaty law, which prevents states from causing harm to the livelihoods and economic well-being of other countries.
In a poignant statement, Ranasinghe invoked a teaching of the Buddha, quoted by Sri Lanka’s former ICJ judge Dr. Chris Weeramanthri, highlighting the principle of stewardship of the earth’s resources as the foundation of modern environmental law. He called on the court to clearly define the legal obligations of states to protect the climate and environment, and to establish legal consequences for violations, ensuring fairness for all nations, regardless of their size or role as polluters.
This case marks a significant step in global climate accountability, with the potential to shape future international environmental law.
