COUNTRIES could soon be able to sue each other for climate reparations after a “bonkers” court decision.
The International Court of Justice ruling paves the way for poorer nations to launch multi-billion-pound compensation cases against rich powers like Britain.
Getty‘We have to put Britain’s interests first’, blasted Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho[/caption]
The move sparked fury last night, with the Tories branding the top UN court’s proclamation “insane” and Reform UK warning it hands a blank cheque to foreign governments.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “We have to put Britain’s interests first.
“The Government must make clear it sees no basis for this ruling to be acted upon.”
Reform UK’s Richard Tice fumed: “This is another bonkers non-binding advisory judgment by the ICJ.
“They absurdly said we should give up the Chagos Islands. They just hate us.”
The judges said governments can be held responsible for climate damage — even if it stems from historic emissions pumped out decades ago.
The court’s opinion is non-binding, but legal experts say it could trigger real-world lawsuits as early as next week.
The legal case was cooked up by law students from Pacific islands who claimed wealthy countries failed them.
Flora Vano, from the island nation of Vanuatu, said: “The ICJ has recognised what we have lived through — our suffering, resilience and right to our future.”
The UK and others argued deals, such as the 2015 Paris Agreement, were enough but the court rejected that.
Judge Iwasawa Yuji ruled not hitting the toughest climate targets would breach international law and said even countries outside the Paris pact must still protect the planet.
He admitted it would be hard to determine who caused which part of climate change.
Natural disasters, such as the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Colombia in June, have also been linked to climate change.
The ICJ’s previous advisory ruling to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was followed by the UK.
AFPCountries may soon be able to sue each other for climate reparations after a ‘bonkers’ International Court of Justice ruling[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
