International case law
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Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo (CEDU), 28 ottobre 2025, seconda sezione, n. 34068/21, Greenpeace Nordic et al. c. Norvegia
In Greenpeace Nordic and Others v. Norway, the European Court of Human Rights addressed the procedural dimension of States’ obligations to effectively protect individuals from the serious adverse effects of climate change on their life, health, well-being, and quality of life, in the context of petroleum exploration. The application was… Read More
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Corte internazionale di giustizia (CIG), 23 luglio 2025, parere consultivo, Obbligazioni degli Stati in materia di cambiamento climatico
The ICJ Advisory Opinion clarifies the obligations of States regarding climate change under international law. It carries significant normative authority, having been unanimously requested by the UN General Assembly and adopted after unprecedented participation by States and other stakeholders. Read More
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Corte Interamericana dei diritti umani (IACtHR), 29 maggio 2025, parere consultivo, A032/25, Emergenza climatica e diritti umani
In its Advisory Opinion on the climate emergency requested by Chile and Colombia, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) provides an authoritative interpretation of States’ obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights in the context of climate change. The Opinion consolidates and advances a human rights–based approach to… Read More
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Corte della Associazione europea di libero scambio (EFTA), 21 maggio 2025, parere consultivo, E-18/24, Greenpeace Nordic et al. c. Norvegia
In its Advisory Opinion in the case Greenpeace Nordic and Others v Norway, the EFTA Court addressed the interpretation of the Directive 2011/92/EU, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU (the “EIA Directive”). The referring court asked whether greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the combustion of petroleum and natural gas extracted under… Read More
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Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo (CEDU), 30 gennaio 2025, prima sezione, nn. 51567/14 et al, Cannavacciuolo et al. c. Italia
In Cannavacciuolo and Others v. Italy, the European Court of Human Rights addressed the long-standing environmental and public-health crisis in the so-called “Terra dei Fuochi” region in Campania. The case was brought by five associations and 41 individuals living in the provinces of Naples and Caserta who alleged that the… Read More
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International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), May 21, 2024, Advisory Opinion, No. 31, Climate Change and International Law
In its Advisory Opinion on climate change the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) clarifies States’ obligations concerning climate change under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including those set out in Part XII, following a request from the Commission of Small… Read More
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Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo (CEDU), 9 aprile 2024, Grande Camera, n. 39371/20, Duarte Agostinho et al. c. Portogallo ed altri 32
In Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and 32 Others, the European Court of Human Rights clarified the Convention’s jurisdictional scope in the context of States’ human-rights obligations relating to climate change. Six applicants living in Portugal challenged their home State and 32 other Contracting Parties for alleged failures to… Read More
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Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo (CEDU), 9 aprile 2024, Grande Camera, n. 53600/20, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz et al. c. Svizzera
In Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, the European Court of Human Rights clarified the human-rights obligations of States in relation to climate change under the European Convention of Human Rights. The case was brought by the association Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz, composed of women aged over 70 living in… Read More
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Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo (CEDU), 9 aprile 2024, Grande Camera, n. 7189/21, Carême c. Francia
In Carême v. France, the European Court of Human Rights examined a complaint concerning the alleged insufficiency of France’s action to address climate change. The applicant, former mayor of Grande-Synthe, argued that the State had failed to take adequate mitigation and adaptation measures, resulting in a breach of its rights… Read More
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Corte europea dei diritti dell’uomo (CEDU), 19 ottobre 2023, prima sezione, n. 35648/10, Locascia et. al. c. Italia
In Pavlov and Others v. Russia, the European Court of Human Rights addressed the issue of air pollution in the city of Lipetsk. The case was brought by several residents who complained that the authorities’ failure to take adequate measures to reduce pollution and nuisances from steelworks and other industrial… Read More