In a landmark moment for global climate justice, on July 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion affirming that all countries have binding legal obligations under international law to limit greenhouse gas emissions, prevent transboundary environmental harm, and protect the rights of present and future generations. Describing climate change as an “urgent and existential threat,” the Court stated that failure to act could amount to an internationally wrongful act—opening the door for reparation claims by harmed States, including those not party to UN climate treaties.
This historic advisory opinion stemmed from a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in March 2023, following a campaign led by Vanuatu and supported by over 130 countries. The ICJ invited UN member states to submit written and oral statements addressing key legal questions, including:
- States’ obligations to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions;
- Legal consequences for states that have contributed to environmental damage;
- Responsibilities toward less developed and climate-vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States;
- Obligations to present and future generations.
More than 80 countries, including Nepal, actively participated in the proceedings through written and/or oral statements to the ICJ. Nepal’s participation included a written submission in March 2024 and an oral statement in December 2024—marking the first time Nepal participated in oral proceedings before the ICJ.
The Government of Nepal’s submissions were informed by advocacy efforts led by World Youth for Climate Justice (WY4CJ) and supported by Amnesty Nepal (AI Nepal). Together, WY4CJ and AI Nepal mobilized 25 young people, consisting primarily of lawyers and law students along with young people from other university faculties, who voluntarily conducted a doctrinal legal research and prepared an evidence-based draft submission. The document strongly advocated for climate justice rooted in human rights, intersectional equity, and the principle of differentiated responsibility.
Their work directly informed the Nepal Government’s written submission in March 2024 and oral submissions in December 2024 before the ICJ. At the submission in The Hague, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba highlighted that Nepal is bearing the brunt of climate change impacts disproportionately and “being penalized for bad karma we did not create—for mistakes we never made, for crimes we never committed.”
In the lead-up to the submission, the youth team engaged in strategic advocacy with key government officials, including the Foreign Secretary, senior representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Attorney General, a retired Supreme Court justice, and secretaries from the Ministries of Forest and Environment, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Climate Change Management Division.
In addition to the joint efforts with WY4CJ, Amnesty Nepal also called for government action. In August 2023, it sent a formal letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs urging Nepal to submit a written response to the ICJ. In October, the organization also hosted a national dialogue involving youth, legal professionals, government officials, and civil society representatives to discuss the significance of the advisory opinion and Nepal’s potential contribution.
While ICJ advisory opinions are not legally binding, they lay down legal principles that shape international law and influence diplomatic efforts globally, and thus carry significant legal and diplomatic weight Nepal’s submissions contributed to the broader body of legal arguments that informed the ICJ’s opinion.
The fact that young people were at the helm of shaping Nepal’s contribution to the ICJ proceedings highlights an emerging model of youth-led civic and legal engagement on international climate issues. Their role in this case reflects a growing and impactful presence in shaping climate decision-making at both national and international levels—a development that signals promise for more inclusive climate action.