Planet on the Brink

Planet on the Brink: Transforming Global Environmental Governance After the ICJ Advisory Opinion. The Mobilising an Earth Governance Alliance & the Climate Governance Commission hosted a roundtable discussion during London Climate Action Week. The event was opened by Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland.

The world faces a deepening planetary emergency—and is on a reckless path toward catastrophic climate change, with deep consequences for our societies and economies. In this pivotal moment, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is considering an advisory opinion on states’ legal responsibilities to address climate change—an unprecedented opportunity to clarify obligations and create a legal and moral framework for focused collective action.

This roundtable explored how the ICJ opinion can serve as a springboard for strengthened legal frameworks and more effective global environmental governance. The discussion drew on the following key proposals from the Climate Governance Commission’s 2023 landmark report: Governing Our Planetary Emergency.

• The Urgent Improvement of Climate COPs

• The Declaration of Planetary Emergency & Emergency Platform

• Ensuring Adequate International Earth System Scientific Monitoring Capacity

• Toward an International Court for the Environment.