Assessing The Role Of International Law While Addressing The Climate Change Disputes

Abstract

The concept of climate change represents a critical and unprecedented worldwide challenge which needs a coordinated response across legal, political, and institutional boundaries. International law particularly through environmental treaties and human rights frameworks has become increasingly central under the domain of climate change cases. That paper examines how international legal norms shape both domestic and transnational climate lawsuits, enabling individuals, civil society actors, and even states to contain states and corporations answerable for failing to mitigate or adapt to climate impacts. Key developments analysed include the growth use of “International Law for Human Rights”, the invocation of treaty obligations such as those in the Paris Agreement, and the growing judicial recognition of environment-climate related doctrines like ‘precautionary principle’ and multicultural equity. This paper concludes by addressing the challenges facing international climate litigation and analysing the eventuality of international law as a powerful mechanism for enforcing climate obligations in the future.