Australia warned it could face legal action over ‘wrongful’ fossil fuel actions after landmark climate ruling from world’s top court

Vanuatu climate change minister says ICJ opinion gives Pacific island nations much greater leverage' in dealing with partners such as Australia

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Australia could face international legal action over its fossil fuel production and failure to rapidly cut emissions, Vanuatu's climate minister says, after a potentially watershed declaration by the world's top court.

An International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion published in The Hague on Wednesday found countries had a legal obligation to take measures to prevent climate change and aim to limit global heating to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, and that high-emitting countries that failed to act could be liable to pay restitution to low-emitting countries.