Freetown, 28 July 2025 – The Government of Sierra Leone warmly welcomes the unanimous landmark advisory opinion issued on 23 July 2025 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of States in addressing climate change.
This historic opinion—requested by the United Nations General Assembly through the leadership of the Republic of Vanuatu, and supported by a core group of States including Sierra Leone—provides clear judicial guidance on the legal duties of all nations to safeguard the global climate system and environment for present and future generations.
The Court’s opinion affirms that States are under binding legal obligations to take all necessary measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. It also confirms that these obligations draw on international environmental law, human rights law, and the law of the sea, and must be informed by the best available scientific evidence.
As one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, yet among the lowest contributors to global emissions, Sierra Leone is proud to have been part of the coalition that championed this request. Our coastal communities are already facing sea-level rise, erosion, loss of fisheries, and food insecurity. Scientific projections warn that, without urgent action, at least 26.4 square kilometres of Sierra Leone’s coastline could be lost by 2050, threatening lives and livelihoods.
Despite these risks, Sierra Leone has taken bold steps through national adaptation and mitigation plans. However, our high vulnerability and limited resources mean that global climate obligations must be implemented fairly, with developed nations—who have contributed most to the crisis—leading in emission reductions and providing financial, technical, and capacity-building support to vulnerable countries.
Sierra Leone welcomes the Court’s recognition that States have the right and responsibility to regulate harmful activities by private actors, underscoring the need for sustainable investment and development.
We stand ready to work with all partners—within Africa, across the Global South, and in the broader United Nations system—to ensure the urgent and equitable implementation of this advisory opinion, especially through the UN General Assembly.
Sierra Leone’s participation in the ICJ proceedings was led by the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, with then Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley serving as Agent, and Professor Dr. Charles C. Jalloh of the University of Miami Law School and UN International Law Commission serving as Counsel and Advocate. Support was provided by the Open Society Justice Initiative, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Center for International Law and Policy in Africa.
