In the U.S., cities, states and citizens have pursued legal action to force the government and fossil fuel industry to take responsibility for causing global warming and enact new emissions curbs or provide compensation for climate change-related damage.
This month, though, has brought two major developments that may mark a turning point in climate change-related legal battles, one being the case brought by Vanuatu seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on obligations to combat global warming.
The U.S. and Russia, among other nations, argued that human rights law shouldn't apply in climate-related cases, while developing nations emphasized that major polluters are violating the basic human rights of vulnerable populations.
The Montana Supreme Court decision directed state agencies to consider greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels as part of their environmental assessments, impacting future fossil fuel policies.
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