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Does framing climate harm as a human rights violation (ICCPR Article 6) imply extraterritorial jurisdiction?

If climate damage is framed as a violation of the right to life under ICCPR Article 6, does that automatically mean states have extraterritorial legal responsibility?

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By Himanshu Answered 3 months ago

This is one of the most debated issues in climate and human rights law right now. Recent ICJ advisory opinions recognize that states have due diligence obligations to prevent cross-border climate harm that can threaten the right to life, which clearly points toward an extraterritorial dimension of responsibility. That said, turning this into enforceable legal jurisdiction—where a specific court can hear and decide such cases—is still a major legal challenge. The law is evolving, but it’s not fully settled yet.

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