Climate Change in the International Courts

Climate change in the international courts: A discussion of the ECHR’s decision in Klimaseniorinnen and the ITLOS, Inter-American and ICJ Advisory Opinions In this episode of the 4 New Square Chambers podcast, Richard O’Brien KC, Camilla Cockerill, and Anthony Jones examine States’ international law obligations in the context of climate change. Key Topics: • European Court of Human Rights’ judgment on climate change • Advisory opinions from: • International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) • Inter-American Court of Human Rights • International Court of Justice (ICJ) • The political climate driving litigation • States' obligations under international law • Regional approaches to climate-related human rights litigation About the Speakers: • Richard O’Brien KC is a leading public law barrister, recognised for his incisive legal mind and dedication. Richard regularly represents and advises government departments and local authorities. Praised as “fantastically acute” and “extremely hard-working,” he was appointed silk in 2024. • Anthony Jones specialises in public international law, treaty interpretation, investment treaty claims and State responsibility. Anthony is a co-author of The ICSID Convention, Rules and Regulations: A Practical Commentary, 2019 and is ranked as Band 1 in international human rights law and administrative law and human rights by Chambers UK. • Camilla Cockerill specialises in commercial and public international law. Camilla’s secondment at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) in 2024 provided her with hands-on experience in a range of public international law matters. She was recently instructed to act for a coalition of NGOs from Caribbean Island states in proceedings before the Inter American Court of Human Rights in the historic Chile / Columbia climate change Advisory Opinion.