July 23, 2025 – As the International Court of Justice (ICJ) prepares to issue an advisory opinion on states’ obligations in the face of the climate crisis, the African Climate Platform (ACP)—a pan-African coalition advocating for climate justice—is calling for a strong legal recognition of the link between climate disruption and human rights violations.
For these long-standing climate and human rights advocates on the continent, the upcoming opinion could mark a turning point. It would pave the way for a clear acknowledgment of climate change as a justice issue, not merely an environmental management concern. The ACP emphasizes that beyond its symbolic value, this opinion could also reinforce another ongoing strategic legal action: a case filed before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), aimed at recognizing the specific responsibilities of states and major actors in the climate crisis.
In their statement, ACP members outline five key expectations. First, they call for an unequivocal affirmation that states are bound by international legal obligations—including environmental treaties, human rights conventions, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities—requiring them to take urgent, fair, and science-based climate action. Second, they urge recognition that the effects of climate disruption—forced displacement, food insecurity, loss of livelihoods—indeed constitute violations of fundamental human rights, particularly for vulnerable populations in Africa.
The coalition also expects the ICJ to reinforce the “polluter pays” principle by stressing the accountability of high-emitting states and corporations in financing adaptation, reparations for loss and damage, and a just transition for countries in the Global South. Furthermore, formal recognition of the rights of future generations would provide a strong foundation for the demands of young Africans advocating for the protection of their ecological and socio-economic future. Finally, the ACP hopes the ICJ’s opinion will serve as a legal basis for scaling up climate litigation across the continent, by strengthening the ability of African courts to hold states and transnational actors accountable.
While the opinion remains advisory, its moral and legal authority could have a lasting impact on global climate policies. The ACP urges African leaders, the African Union, and the international community to take it into account in order to trigger a systemic transformation—finally aligning legal, political, and scientific frameworks in service of a livable future.
“This judgment can become a catalyst for a global awakening,” the statement concludes. The African Climate Platform affirms its readiness to mobilize this decision in its fight for effective climate justice—both in regional and international legal arenas.
By Kilalopress