Inter-American Court Affirms Human Right to Stable Climate

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has issued a landmark advisory opinion affirming that the right to a stable and healthy climate is a fundamental human right, legally binding states in the Americas to take urgent and effective action against the climate crisis. The Court underscored states' obligations to prevent irreversible environmental harm, regulate emissions, protect ecosystems, and ensure adaptation measures, particularly for vulnerable populations, while emphasizing intergenerational equity and the enforceable rights of future generations. This ruling also highlights the duty of states and corporations to protect environmental defenders and guarantee access to justice, setting standards for transparency, participation, and accountability in environmental governance. The decision draws upon international human rights law and environmental principles, marking a pivotal moment in global environmental jurisprudence, with implications for countries party to the American Convention on Human Rights, including Brazil, host of COP30. The advisory opinion was requested by Chile and Colombia and follows extensive hearings, reflecting a comprehensive legal framework for climate action that integrates human rights perspectives and demands that any delay in climate policies be objectively justified. This historic ruling has been recognized as a milestone in climate litigation and environmental justice, emphasizing the intersection of human rights and the climate emergency.