By AFP - Agence France Presse
France urges top UN court to “clarify” international climate law
France called on Thursday for the United Nations' top court to “clarify” international law relating to the fight against climate change, saying judges have a “unique opportunity” to provide a clear legal framework.
The International Court of Justice is holding historic hearings to draft a so-called “advisory opinion” on states' responsibilities in the fight against climate change and the consequences for those who harm the environment.
“France is convinced that these consultative proceedings offer a unique opportunity for the court to contribute to identifying and clarifying international law about the fight against climate change,” said Diego Costa, the country's representative.
“Like many other countries, France has high expectations of these proceedings and the opinion you will issue,” Costa added.
He said the impact of the ICJ opinion was “undoubted.”
France was one of over 100 countries and organizations that applied to the ICJ, the largest case ever brought before the world's highest court.
Critics say that the ICJ's advisory opinion, which will take months, if not years, to draft, will not have sufficient force because it is not binding on states, and there is no means of enforcement.
Others hope the ICJ will set a legal precedent that will influence national climate legislation and litigation.
France warned in October that temperatures in the country were on course to rise by four degrees Celsius by 2100 due to global warming, wiping 10 points off France's gross domestic product.
The government report said that 500,000 homes would be threatened due to receding coastlines by the end of the century.
France is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
“Without resolute action on mitigation and adaptation, we run headlong into worsening consequences of climate change, disastrous for both the environment and human beings,” said Costa.
cvo-ric/phz
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