On December 2, the International Court of Justice began hearing oral statements on the Advisory Opinion relating to the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change

Over two weeks of hearings, the court will consider what countries around the world are legally required to do to combat the climate disaster. The case was brought by low-lying island nations, which face an existential crisis caused by wealthier, polluting nations.

Officials from almost 100 countries are at the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, asking the court to issue an opinion on the responsibility of certain nations to protect the planet from climate change.