Hearing in The Hague, Netherlands at the top United Nations court the International Court of Justice who will take up the largest case in its history. It will have two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations fight its devastating impact. The court will hear from 99 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations over the two weeks. It's the largest lineup in the institution's nearly 80-year history. Any decision by the court would be non-binding advice and unable to directly force wealthy nations into action to help struggling countries. Yet it would be more than just a powerful symbol since it could serve as the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits. |