Climate Crisis Is A Health Crisis - International Court Of Justice Ruling Reaction From Health Community

The Hague, 23 July 2025

Responding to today’s much-anticipated Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Dr Jeni Miller, Executive Director at the Global Climate and Health Alliance said:

“The International Court of Justice has delivered a historic affirmation: the climate crisis is a health crisis—and failure to act is a failure to protect life. The Court made clear that fossil fuels are the root cause of this crisis, and that a state’s failure to curb emissions—including through fossil fuel production, subsidies, or exploration—may constitute an internationally wrongful act. This ruling confirms that governments and corporations have a legal duty to prevent further harm, uphold the right to health, and safeguard future generations. From deadly heat and toxic air to disease and displacement, the Court’s message is clear—human health is not collateral damage. Health workers and advocates now have powerful legal backing to demand bold, science-based climate action rooted in justice including a just transition away from fossil fuels, for health and the duty to protect life across all ages and borders.”

About GCHA
The Global Climate and Health Alliance is a consortium of more than 200 health professionals and health civil society organisations and networks from around the world addressing climate change. We are united by a shared vision of an equitable, sustainable future, in which the health impacts of climate change are minimised, and the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation are maximised.

Find out more: https://climateandhealthalliance.org/who-we-are/about/

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