The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: Implications for Global Health Governance

The International Court of Justice has recently issued an advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change. This opinion has prompted considerable discussion within international law and global health circles regarding its potential relevance to the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its member states. In the context of the World Health Assembly’s ongoing engagement with climate change and health, including through the 2025 Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health, there is growing interest in understanding how the advisory opinion may inform future global health law and governance.