Climate change news

Our world is in the midst of a growing a climate crisis. To help solve it, we must rapidly transform our global energy system from one reliant on fossil fuels to one powered by renewable energy. Changing our energy system is crucial to reduce emissions and protect people and nature from the worst impacts of climate change. Renewables are a clean source of energy and represent the best option. But we are also in the middle of a nature crisis, and the impact of renewable energy on biodiversity must be carefully managed. In 2021, this thinking brought together like-minded organization together a new coalition, Coalition Linking Energy And Nature for action (CLEANaction). The six founder members are the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), Birdlife International, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and WWF. The goal of the Coalition is to ensure that the impact on nature by clean energy systems is fully accounted for prior to any installation. Now, three years since the formation of the Coalition, there are many more members, and a growing body of practical examples of ways to carefully assess the full impact of renewable energy projects, that help advance the global renewable energy transformation while prioritizing options that cause the least damage to nature. The CLEANaction Highlights 2024 report is a collation of such examples. These examples bring together all those aware of the link between energy and nature to work collaboratively in spreading knowledge and driving solution-oriented approaches and results. This enables shared best practice, appropriate siting, bridging data gaps, knowledge-sharing, promoting the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, and more. For more information, contact Dean Cooper at the Coalition here:cleanaction@wwfint.org And visit our website at panda.org/cleanactionfor more information.

(Monday 28 October): Two major new climate reports present a double warning to the world. Greenhouse gas concentrations have surged to a new record in 2023 according to the World Meteorological Organization. At the same time, the UN’s NDC Synthesis report shows that current national climate plans would see emissions drop by just 2.6% from 2019 levels by the end of the decade - nowhere near enough to prevent catastrophic environmental and economic consequences. Ahead of the UN climate summit COP29, WWF is calling for a reset in climate action and finance from countries around the world. It is crucial that nations come forward over the course of the next year with more ambitious, specific, and credible climate commitments that are aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Shirley Matheson, WWF Global NDC Enhancement Coordinator, said: “New national climate plans due over the next twelve months must set clear, economy-wide emissions targets covering all greenhouse gases. It must break down targets by sectors, while setting practical and enforceable policies and funding to achieve these goals. Adaptation priorities must be explicitly laid out, with funding directed at critical sectors and infrastructure, and communities most vulnerable to climate impacts.” The next few months represent an important opportunity for governments to lay out practical action in climate plans and biodiversity commitments, says Matheson. “With more than 85% of countries already missing the deadline to submit national biodiversity plans ahead of the Biodiversity Convention, currently underway in Cali, Colombia, we have yet to see signs that governments are planning to respond with the necessary haste and seriousness as we approach the deadline for national climate plans. Nature is the climate's secret ally, and with full engagement on both fronts, we may avoid reaching irreversible tipping points.” Stephen Cornelius, WWF Global Deputy Climate and Energy Lead, said: “High greenhouse gas levels were unfortunately just one of many climate records broken in 2023. This must serve as a wakeup call to decision-makers heading to the UN climate talks in two weeks. The steeply rising concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane due to human activities lead to worse extreme weather events, deeper economic risks, and severe, irreversible impacts on ecosystems. Inaction raises the stakes, not only for meeting climate targets but for the health, security, and wellbeing of people everywhere.” Without immediate action, we will not meet the 2030 goal of decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by at least 43%. “These reports show that there are many feasible and cost-effective solutions to address the gaps in actions, and that will get governments back on track to the 1.5°C goal - like renewable energy - and we must act on these now,” he says. All eyes are tuned to the climate conference in November to secure the necessary finance for developing countries to access these solutions. Notes: WWF’s COP29 Expectations paper is available here. WWF's NDCsWeWant Checklist, sets out what ambitious national climate plans should include. Contact: WWF International climate comms team: cop29-comms@wwfint.org ​Media updates: Sign up here for WWF’s daily COP29 newsletter ‘What’s Hot in Baku’ for updates on negotiations and news from WWF throughout the summit.

(24 October 2024) - Unprecedented levels of climate ambition and action are required over the next five years if the world is to limit global warming to 1.5oC, according to the UN Environment Programme’s Emissions Gap Report 2024. The report shows that current government plans and the pace of implementation are predictedto result in devastating temperature increases of 2.6-3.1oC over the course of the next century. The report comes as countries are preparing to submit new national climate plans – Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs – over the next few months. Stephanie Roe, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead Scientist and UNEP Emission Gap Report Lead Author said: “This round of national climate plans is a critical moment for countries to enhance their 2030 ambition. If these plans, and their swift implementation, fall short, we will overshoot the 1.5°C limit. Beyond this threshold, the world faces considerably higher risks of crossing tipping points that could trigger irreversible damage to ecosystems and people’s lives and livelihoods. This year presents a critical window for decisive action. “The good news is that we have the solutions. The report shows that the world has more than enough potential to close the emissions gap in 2030 and 2035, and that many of the solutions also support sustainable development, with improvements for air and water quality, more jobs and more biodiversity. There are also exciting trends well underway in various countries, including outpacing coal phaseout targets, and the rapid uptake of renewable energy and electric vehicles. These successes and other solutions need to be rapidly scaled up.” Shirley Matheson, WWF Global NDC Enhancement Coordinator, said: “We need a quantum leap in climate action, in particular by the biggest emitters. The UN’s assessment is stark. Emissions are soaring, and government inaction has left our world in peril. But there is still a chance to change course. If governments act decisively and with urgency, we can still keep the narrow pathway to 1.5°C within reach. Countries must step up and present bold, revised climate plans for 2030 and 2035, that are fully aligned with 1.5°C, and move rapidly to implement them. These plans are an opportunity to reset climate action in line with what is needed to secure a safer, cleaner and more prosperous future for all.” WWF’s blueprint for ambitious national climate plans calls on countries to include roadmaps for phasing out fossil fuels, transforming food systems, and halting and reversing nature loss. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C, global emissions need to be reduced by 43% by 2030, 60% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. Significantly more climate finance will be essential to enable developing countries to deliver on their climate plans. At the UN climate conference COP29 in November, countries mustagree on a new climate finance target that meets the needs of developing countries and unlocks climate action at scale. WWF’s COP29 Expectations paper is available here. WWF's NDCsWeWant Checklist, sets out what ambitious national climate plans should include. CONTACT WWF International climate comms team: cop29-comms@wwfint.org Media updates: Sign up here for WWF’s daily COP29 newsletter ‘What’s Hot in Baku’ for updates on negotiations and news from WWF throughout the summit.

With the launch of its SUSREG assessment 2024 today, WWF´s Greening Financial Regulation Initiative (GFRi) urges the financial regulatory sector to take faster, collective action in the face of increasing nature loss that may trigger irreversible “tipping points”. The WWF Living Planet Report 2024 indicates a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in just 50 years (1970-2020). As the Earth approaches dangerous tipping points posing grave threats to humanity, a huge collective effort will be required over the next five years to tackle the dual climate and nature crises. On a positive note, this year's assessment finds that banking and insurance supervisory authorities are making progress to address the financial risks posed by climate change: supervision measures increased by 18% and 17% respectively between 2021 and 2024. However, it is important to note that insurance supervision consistently falls behind banking supervision. Notably, the European Union, Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, the UK, and Brazil are imposing stringent climate-related risk regulations and supervision measures for the financial sector. A growing number of supervisors and regulators are now also requiring financial institutions to disclose their climate targets and transition plans, in alignment with the Paris agreement. Financial supervisors like the European Central Bank also set strict deadlines, requiring financial institutions to fully align with its supervisory expectations on climate-related and environmental (C&E) risks by the end ​of 2024. However, in most jurisdictions, central banking and monetary policy tools do not yet incorporate climate, let alone environmental risks. A few central banks, including Bank of England, Banque de France, Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Bank of Slovenia, have begun phasing out harmful assets from their investments in companies whose economic activities significantly contribute to climate change, including exposures to coal and fossil fuels. Faster action is needed considering current national climate commitments are not strong enough and could result in a global temperature rise of 3°C by the end of the century. Additionally, the accelerated loss of biodiversity could trigger multiple dangerous “tipping points”, causing abrupt and irreversible changes to our planet (WWF LPR 2024). When it comes to nature-related financial risk, this year's assessment finds that 7 of the top 10 biodiversity hotspot nations are lagging behind in banking supervision for nature-related risks, and all 10 are falling short in integrating these risks into insurance supervision. This is a worrying trend, considering many economic activities that continue to drive nature loss in those countries are financed and underwritten by banking and insurance sectors. Environmentally harmful investments such as direct payments, tax incentives and subsidies that exacerbate climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are estimated at almost US$7 trillion per year. In contrast, positive financial flows for nature-based solutions amount to a mere US$200 billion, a significantly smaller number. Maud Abdelli, WWF’s Greening Financial Regulation Initiative lead, said: “ Climate-related and environmental risks are not simply new risk categories; they are fundamental drivers that permeate existing prudential risk categories within the financial sector. Current action by central banks, financial regulators and supervisors is much too slow, and is falling short of what’s needed to achieve the global Climate and Biodiversity Goals and avoid “dangerous tipping points” that will cause devastating impacts to our planet and economy.” Siti Kholifatul Rizkiah, WWF’s SUSREG Lead, said: “The next five years are critical for setting the world on a sustainable trajectory. The cost of inaction is far too great to bear, and the consequences are unthinkable. Central banks and financial regulators should start tackling nature-related risks in the financial system through stronger financial supervision and enforcement measures. Only by doing so can we ensure that the financial system becomes a powerful force in protecting and restoring our natural environment and the planet we depend on.” WWF strongly advocates for regulatory frameworks to take a precautionary approach and incorporate nature-related risk into all prudential supervision measures. These need to focus on risk management & monitoring, additional capital requirements to account for these risks, and stress test modelling that include nature risks and withstand adverse scenarios. Furthermore, enhancing qualitative and quantitative disclosures are important to hold the financial sector accountable. This means increasing the scope of disclosures to include nature and adopting best practice frameworks such as those developed by the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). A crucial part of the central banks and financial supervisors´ mandate is to set climate and nature targets with a concrete, measurable roadmap or action plan detailing how these goals will be achieved. Such a roadmap needs to prioritise the key milestones ​of halving greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 levels and becoming nature positive by 2030, as well as limiting global warming to 1.5ºC and achieving full biodiversity recovery by 2050. About the WWF SUSREG Assessment In 2021, WWF launched the first Sustainable Financial Regulations and Central Bank Activities (SUSREG) assessment to evaluate how environmental and social risks are integrated in regulatory and supervisory practices, as well as in central banking and other financial activities that support the redirection of financial flows towards more sustainable practices. The aim of the assessment is to help central banks and financial supervisors benchmark their policies against emerging regional and global good practices with the overall goal of redirecting financial flows toward sustainable practices, and moving away lending, underwriting and investment from the most environmentally harmful businesses and sectors, in support of a net zero, nature positive economy. Countries assessed are mostly members and observers of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), and the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS). Assessments are published on a yearly basis, with an accompanying annual report. Assessment indicators have been extended this year with three new indicators on (i) integration of oceans and marine life in supervisory expectations or regulation, (ii) implementation and monitoring report from supervisor to publish the progress of financial institutions in meeting their supervisory expectations, and (iii) intervention action concerning financial institutions that fail to align with their supervisory expectations. Individual country results of the assessment are available on the online platform SUSREG Tracker here. With an initial focus on banking supervision, the SUSREG framework will be gradually expanded over the years to cover other key parts of the financial system such as capital markets and asset management.

GLAND, Switzerland (16 July 2024): WWF has made a submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to contribute to the formation of their advisory opinion on climate change. WWF’s submission emphasizes that countries also have a legal duty to protect and restore biodiversity, in addition to the obligation to tackle the climate crisis, recognizing that biodiversity is both threatened by rising emissions, and also part of the solution to securing a stable climate. In March 2023, following a campaign led by Vanuatu, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the obligations of countries to address the climate crisis under international law. It also asked the Court to consider the legal consequences of failing to act. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead, and COP20 President, said: “There are already legal obligations for countries to tackle the climate crisis, in addition to the economic, social, environmental and humanitarian imperatives. The Court’s opinion has the potential to establish this in international law with more authority than any previous court ruling on climate change. With most countries falling far short of their obligations to reduce emissions and protect and restore nature, this advisory opinion has the potential to send a powerful legal signal that states need to fulfil duties to act. “WWF hopes to encourage the Court and countries making their own submissions to recognise that nature is a climate ally, and that action to protect our natural world must take place in parallel with action to reduce emissions, to ensure we have a living planet for future generations.” The WWF submission emphasizes that biodiversity loss impacts humanity’s ability to mitigate the effects of climate change itself. Certain ecosystems and species play a significant role in the removal and sequestration of CO2 from the atmosphere and can reduce the risks associated with natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. It also highlights that climate and nature action are essential to ensure that existing international human rights law obligations are upheld. These include the right to a healthy environment, the right to health and life, the right to an adequate standard of living including food and water, and the right to non-discrimination. With regard to the consequences for states who do not fulfil their obligations, WWF calls on the Court to establish a duty for countries to stop harming nature, and adopt the “polluter pays” principle in the compensation of states that have suffered significant, often irreversible damage, resulting from pollution by greenhouse gas emissions. WWF also encourages all countries to take immediate measures to ensure their compliance with their international obligations to preserve, protect, and restore biodiversity, and the compliance of other countries. When the ICJ publishes its final opinion, it will add to other significant legal rulings from international and national courts that have underlined the legal obligations of states to act on climate and nature. One example is the recent ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (which WWF also made a submission to) which found that states have a legal obligation to tackle the climate crisis to preserve marine ecosystems. Another is the European Court of Human Rights that found human rights were being compromised due to lack of climate action. Edie Hofmeister, Co-Chair of the International Bar Association (IBA) Business Human Rights Committee, said: ​“In the wake of other significant international rulings that we’ve seen this year, including the ITLOS Advisory Opinion on Climate Change and judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, the ICJ Advisory Opinion represents a further example of international courts being used as a tool to clarify states’ obligations with respect to climate change under international law, and to identify the legal consequences of failing to fulfil such obligations.” WWF was assisted with its submission to the ICJ by international law firm Squire Patton Boggs and barristers from 20 Essex Street, Matrix Chambers, Brick Court Chambers, Doughty Street Chambers and No 5 Chambers. NOTE: As WWF is not a country, it does not have legal standing before the Court. But its statement will be made available for all countries and the ICJ itself to consider. The ICJ announced on 12 April 2024 that it had received 91 submissions from countries, the highest number of written statements ever to have been filed in advisory proceedings before the Court. The ICJ indicated it may make the written statements accessible to the public on or after the opening of the oral proceedings in the case. No date is yet set for the oral proceedings. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. ends For interviews and further information on WWF’s submission, contact: Robin Harvey rharvey@wwfint.org Izrael Muhamad imuhamad@wwfint.org Or news@wwfint.org

Many frameworks have been suggested to assess transition plans’ ambition, credibility, and feasibility. However, the lack of one clear reference framework paves the way for inconsistencies in transition plans and the risk of greenwashing. This working paper, produced and published by the University of Zürich and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, proposes a set of 64 common ground indicators from 28 different transition plan disclosure frameworks to comprehensively assess transition plans and develop a novel natural language processing (NLP)–based tool to automate the assessment of companies’ disclosures. This can help investors and financial supervisors assess transition risks while supporting companies’ disclosure efforts. Applying the tool to 143 reports from the carbon-intensive CA100+ companies, it has found that companies tend to disclose more indicators related to target setting (talk) but fewer indicators related to the concrete implementation of strategies (walk). The results demonstrate that AI machine learning can be used to generate a positive impact on the transition towards a more sustainable economy by identifying the elements of transition plans that require further scrutiny and/or effort. Based on this working paper, the Universities of Zurich and Oxford are currently developing an online AI based web tool to help financial supervisors, asset managers and financial institutions evaluate the net-zero transition plans of the companies they are investing in. Commissioned and co-produced by WWF´s Greening Financial Regulation Initiative the online toolwill help investors assess whether companies’ transition plans are robust with science-based targets and a credible pathway to achieve net zero by 2050. The online tool is expected to be launched over the coming months and will be the starting point for further leveraging new technologies in sustainable finance.For example, the assessment of transition plans could be used by financial regulators in their supervisory practices or to investigate whether the risk of greenwashing is reflected in stock returns.

Then join WWF and CDP’s public consultation for the updated open-source CDP-WWF Temperature Scoring Methodology (version 1.5) and contribute to the development and update of the method. What does the methodology do? The CDP-WWF Temperature Scoring method enables measurement of a financial portfolio’s, a company’s, or a company value chain’s contribution to global warming. It does this byconverting corporate greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets into a clear and comparable metric - a temperature score expressed in degrees Celsius of global warming based on IPCC AR6 scenarios. These temperature scores are then aggregated to company and portfolio or value chain level, if applicable. Background The CDP-WWF Temperature Scoring Methodology was launched in 2020 (under the name Temperature Rating methodology). It is the basis of an open-source tool that business and financial institutions can freely use to measure Paris Agreement alignment and to set climate targets, for example, under the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) framework. Since the launch, the adoption of the CDP-WWF methodology has grown steadily, and today, it is one of the SBTi methods for target-setting for financial institutions. It is also implemented by data providers such as Bloomberg, Clarity AI, and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) for their implied temperature rise (ITR) solutions. Method update andpublic consultation This summer, WWF and CDP plan to launch an updated version of this methodology. To ensure the method is robust and useful, we are inviting NGOs, academia, data providers, regulators, financial institutions and other businesses and stakeholders, globally and from all sectors to a public consultation. The objective is to obtain feedback on key updates to the methodology. For a more immersive experience, participants are also welcome to try out the updated ITR tool, provided by WWF. The public consultation period will run from May 23rd 2024 to June 22nd 2024. The main changes and improvements in the updated version 1.5 are: Using IPCC AR6 climate model simulations and scenarios for the linear regression models used as benchmarks Clarifying and enhancing the target timeframe definition Updating the default score from 3.2C to 3.4C for companies without valid targets Introducing a 1.5C temperature floor Changing Linear Annual Reduction (LAR) to Compound Annual Reduction (CAR) Introducing a specific Scope 2 benchmark and single scope level assessments Adding further transparency on the methodology’s purpose, rationales, and key limitations Who does this concern? The primary stakeholders are likely to be, but are not limited to, financial and ESG analysts, sustainability experts, portfolio managers, corporate sustainability managers and climate experts, regulators, and academic researchers. What to do now? Please read the consultation draft methodology here Submit your feedback and commentshereduringthe consultation(May 23rdto June 22nd) Try out the WWF Implied Temperature Rise Tool (ITR) here Questions? Please contact WWF at ekonomi-finans@wwf.se

This is an open letter sent by WWF to the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action ahead of their next meeting during the World Bank / International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, taking place from 17-19 April 2024, in Washington DC. This year provides a great opportunity to restructure the financing of climate action in order tostrengthen global resilience, as well as address increasing needs for solutions. Therefore, I'd like to offer my views on key finance issues to be addressed this year: delivering on existing commitments; at least doubling adaptation finance and financing losses and damages; no double counting with resources for biodiversity and, most importantly, the new collective quantitative goal and making finance flows consistent with 1.5 degrees. Delivering on existing commitments: During the 16th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which took place in 2010 in Cancún, developed countries committed to jointly mobilize US$100 billion per year, starting in 2020, to address the needs of developing countries. Delivery of this goal is an important step in building trust between parties to the Convention and will be an important stepping stone in reinforcing a global architecture of climate finance. This effort should continue until 2025 and since the goal was not delivered in at least the years 2021 and 2022 – it should also make up for any existing financial gaps. At least doubling adaptation finance and financing losses and damages: During the 26th Conference of the Parties in 2021 in Glasgow, parties agreed to double finance for adaptation in developing countries – it should be based on 2019 adaptation finance level and be delivered by 2025. For many communities, especially those most vulnerable to climate change, adaptation is the only way to avoid the worst impacts of changing climate and not suffer the worst brunt of possible losses and damages. And avoiding losses and damages is critical to safeguard any development work done in previous years – to avoid any steps back. While the new goal is discussed, we cannot forget about existing architecture. Last year saw the successful establishment of a new fund dedicated to loss and damage during the 28th Conference of the Parties in Dubai. However, initial replenishment pledges, which amount to less than US$700 million, are underwhelming at best. The possible losses and damages in developing countries alone might reach a level of US$400 billion per year in 2030 if we fail to tackle the required ambitious mitigation action and adaptation measures. To address this, and be an additional measure helping to safeguard any progress made as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, we need robust and ambitious pledges, while not forgetting any adaptation work required – which can lower the final needs. No double counting with biodiversity resources: The Global Biodiversity Framework includes important financial targets, with key milestones for 2025 and 2030. Any double counting between funding commitments for climate and biodiversity must be avoided, while solutions that benefit nature and climate should be prioritized. Although synergies should be maximized, financial commitments should be met separately under both regimes. New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG): This will be the most significant discussion of this year. The NCQG is a goal that was envisioned in the Paris Agreement, and which should replace the existing US$100 billion per year goal – starting from that floor, and starting from the year 2025. Involvement of Ministries of Finance, and especially members of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, will be critical in this regard. Your institutions can give a proper mandate to national negotiators and allow for an ambitious outcome, including a sufficient level of finance, especially from public sources. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessed, there is a need to increase existing climate investments sixfold to allow for a transformation up to the required scale. The new goal should start from a floor of at least US$600 billion per year, taking into account the needs and priorities of the developing countries, and from various new and additional sources. However, the various assessments show the needs of developing countries on the scale of over US$1 trillion per year, and those needs should be taken into account while setting the final amount. Making finance flows consistent with 1.5 degrees: And last, but definitely not least, the Paris Agreement in its Article 2 paragraph 1c envisioned a goal of making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development. Achievement of this goal is a global responsibility, but Ministries of Finance can take a lead in this regard. WWF expects you to implement the necessary policy reforms to support the transition towards net-zero, nature positive and resilient economies, and introduce regulatory frameworks that incentivize the financial sector to support and finance this transition. Active engagement in the preparation of new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and creating a clear financing and disclosure framework to make sure that private finance will support the achievement of NDCs will be essential.We need to make sure that all financial flows, both public and private, are aligned with the goal of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5℃ above the pre-industrial levels. This goal, while heavily endangered by inadequate action to date, can still be achieved and for that we need urgent work at the WB/IMF meetings, G7 and the G20, in addition to national level work. We hope that you will take a proactive and ambitious stance and do your part for the world to meet the challenge of climate change. Signed, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal Global Lead Climate and Energy COP20 President Former Minister of Environment for Peru

(GLAND, Switzerland) 9 April 2024 - Today, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of a group of older women from Switzerland - the Klima Seniorinnen - who had brought the case arguing that their human rights were violated because their government had not done enough to tackle climate change. The Court agreed, ruling in their favour. This is the first time the Court has ruled on climate change. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead, said: “Climate litigation is a new arena for people to hold their governments to account for climate action - or the lack thereof. While the outcomes have been varied, the historic decision today sends a strong signal to courts all over the world that governments cannot continue to stall climate action.” As of December 2022, there have been more than 2,180 climate-related cases filed in 65 jurisdictions, up from 884 cases in 2017, according to the 2023 Global Climate Litigation Report. “We can no longer consider climate change as just a political issue. It is a moral, and human rights issue too, and so WWF welcomes the decision of the ECHR,” he said. Patrick Hofstetter, WWF Switzerland expert on climate and energy said: The ECHR’s first judgement on the subject of lacking climate action needs to be a late wakeup call not only for Switzerland. It sets a precedent that goes far beyond the Swiss border. Numerous countries are not on track to meet international targets with their climate policy and according to today’s judgement many would be violating human rights. An important decision is also expected this year from the International Court of Justice, which is considering what the obligations of States are with respect to climate change. Public hearings on this are expected to be held later this year. “WWF will make its own submission to the ICJ, responding to the questions posted in the request for an advisory opinion from the UN General Assembly, drawing on our expertise regarding climate change and linkages to nature and biodiversity. We intend to highlight existing states’ obligations to protect nature and biodiversity as key for climate change mitigation and adaptation. We will also outline how greenhouse gas emissions and other observable climate change effects already bring severe harm to nature and people, thereby violating existing international environmental law. And finally, we will also recall the role which nature can also play in helping to tackle climate change,” said Pulgar-Vidal. “We hope governments take note of these court actions and decisions as they prepare for both COP16 and COP29 this year, where crucial decisions must be taken to protect nature and to tackle climate change. Our leaders must not fail us.” ENDS Notes for Editors: Find out more about WWF’s ICJ submission here. KlimaSeniorinen (Swiss Elders for Climate Protection). For further information, contact: Robin Harvey rharvey@wwfint.org Mandy Woods mwoods@wwfint.org

Vanuatu, an idyllic island paradise in the Pacific, is heaven to tourists, but, increasingly, not the same to the residents as the climate crisis ravages island life and livelihoods. The island nation is responsible for less than 1% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, but suffers from disproportionate impacts of rising emissions caused mainly by wealthy, big emitting countries. Coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events are the most obvious impacts. But the loss of livelihoods and contamination of valuable freshwater by seawater leading to loss of crops - and food insecurity - are part of the daily battle island communities face. So it is not surprising that Vanuatu has been at the forefront of championing ambitious climate action in global fora. But negotiations on climate change only work if everyone does their part. That’s because what happens in China, doesn’t stay in China, and what happens in the U.S. may well be felt thousands of miles away - like in Vanuatu - most harshly. So when legal students from Vanuatu were looking for options, they decided to follow the global legal route. Vanuatu and 18 other champion nations embraced the students' campaign and led a coalition of 132 nations in March 2023 to get the UN General Assembly to adopt a historic resolution for an advisory option from ICJ.In essence, they are asking for an advisory opinion on state’s responsibilities to others as regards climate change. An advisory opinion by the ICJ, while non-binding, could have far-reaching implications for national decisions and for future claims for loss and damage. It also brings into sharp relief the underlying fact that scientists have long warned us about: the burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – is the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions which causes global warming. Without drastically reducing global greenhouse gas emissions – at least 43% by 2030 (compared to 2019 baseline), 60% by 2035 and be net-zero by mid-century, the world will not be able to keep global warming to 1.5℃ - we will not be able to avert the worst impacts of climate change. WWF strongly supports, and has long advocated for, ambitious climate action by all countries. In this regard, WWF made an amicus submission to the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in the context of a similar request for an advisory opinion brought to the Court by the Commission of Small Island States in 2023. The ITLOS case is aimed at defining the climate-related obligations of states under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In its submission to the Tribunal, WWF argued these obligations include rapidly reducing emissions while conserving and restoring the marine environment. WWF will now also make its own submission to the ICJ, responding to the questions posted in the request for an advisory opinion, drawing on its expertise regarding climate change and linkages to nature and biodiversity. We intend to highlight existing states’ obligations to protect nature and biodiversity as key for climate change mitigation and adaptation. We will outline how greenhouse gas emissions and other observable climate change effects already bring severe harm to nature and people, thereby violating existing international environmental law. And finally, we will also recall the role which nature can also play in helping to tackle climate change. On Friday 22nd March, countries provided submissions outlining their views of 1) what the obligations for countries under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system are, and 2) what should be the legal consequences under such obligations. Those submissions should form the basis for the judges to issue their Advisory Opinion. The International Court of Justice is the highest legal body in the UN System. The fact that they agreed to look into climate change and shed light over States' responsibilities is already a victory for those who have long been suffering and campaigned against the harmful impacts it poses to the most vulnerable. This is a unique chance for countries to express their views and make them count in this process. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the fight against one of the biggest existential threats of our times. No country will be immune from the impacts of climate change, and so it is imperative they all engage in this process. We will need everyone, doing everything if we are to overcome the climate crisis, and this ICJ decision could be the fork in the road that leads us to a different future. Notes: Below are the two questions which the ICJ has to consider: What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations. What are the legal consequences under these obligations for States where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment, with respect to: (a) States, including, in particular, small island developing States, which due to their geographical circumstances and level of development, are injured or specially affected by or are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change? (b) Peoples and individuals of the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change?​ Assuming no delays with the first submissions made by countries, they will have an opportunity on 24 June to respond to all the submissions made. The ICJ is planning on holding oral proceedings in The Hague, Netherlands in November or December this year. It is possible for a final decision to be handed down as soon as early 2025. For furtherinformation or interviews, contact: Robin Harvey rharvey@wwfint.org, or news@wwfint.org Mandy Jean Woods mwoods@wwfint.org