Rights experts hails maritime tribunal ‘unprecedented’ ruling to reduce emissions

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 24th May. Group of human rights experts on Thursday applauded the “unprecedented” ruling from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea this week that countries have an obligation to reduce carbon emissions.

The ruling said emissions which are stoking global warming qualify as marine pollution. It’s the first ruling of three cases seeking advisory opinions from international courts on climate change measures.

The experts said the judgement “provides timely guidance” and makes an explicit reference to human rights issues.

The tribunal ruled that countries have obligations to protect the marine environment from climate change impacts and ocean acidification.

It is a key victory for Small Island developing States which are on the frontline of climate change who are gathering in Antigua and Barbuda next week for a major conference to chart the way forward for sustainable development.

The experts said obligations placed on countries under maritime law are “essential for climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as for healthy ecosystems to effectively and equitably tackle the triple planetary crisis that undermines the effective enjoyment of human rights”.