ITLOS’ Climate Opinion: What’s its significance?

YOUNG, MARGARET; PEEL, JACQUELINE; HARROULD-KOLIEB, ELLYCIA; Felson, Janine

doi:10.26188/29194340.v1

ITLOS’ Climate Opinion: What’s its significance?

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posted on 2025-05-30, 06:22 authored by MARGARET YOUNGMARGARET YOUNG, JACQUELINE PEELJACQUELINE PEEL, ELLYCIA HARROULD-KOLIEBELLYCIA HARROULD-KOLIEB, Janine FelsonJanine Felson

On 21 May 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (‘ITLOS’) delivered the first-ever climate advisory opinion issued by an international court. The opinion was requested by an organisation representing small island states—countries among the most vulnerable to climate impacts. What did ITLOS find and what is the significance for climate science, international climate law and the global climate implications?