Inter-American Court Issues Landmark Climate Ruling, Citing Youth-Led Climate Justice Efforts

Washington, D.C. (July 3, 2025) – In a landmark advisory opinion, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has affirmed that States have binding human rights obligations to urgently address climate change, particularly through rapid mitigation strategies aimed at safeguarding future generations. The Court’s opinion underscores the critical role of youth advocacy and the scientific urgency of addressing the climate crisis on a global scale.

Global litigation law firm Hausfeld represented the Center for Human Rights and Environment (CHRE) and its youth-led initiative, Fast Action on Climate to Ensure Intergenerational Justice (FACE), in the proceedings. Hausfeld submitted an amicus brief urging the Court to recognize the legal necessity of swift climate action. The Court’s opinion aligns with the arguments presented in CHRE and FACE’s brief, affirming the legal duty of States to limit global warming to 1.5°C and implement rapid measures to reduce short-lived climate pollutants and protect carbon sinks.

“This is a historic moment for climate and human rights law,” said Michael Hausfeld, Chair Emeritus of Hausfeld. “The Court has made it clear that States not only have a moral obligation, but a legal one, to act urgently in defense of the most vulnerable—including children and future generations.”

The Court’s opinion responds to a joint request filed by Colombia and Chile on January 9, 2023, seeking clarification on States' responsibilities under international human rights law to address the climate emergency. In its response, the Court emphasized that climate change is already undermining a wide range of human rights—most notably the rights to life, health, food, water, and a healthy environment—and that these harms disproportionately affect youth and communities, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The amicus brief submitted by CHRE and FACE argued that:

• States’ executive and legislative branches must immediately adopt mitigation policies consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C;
• National courts must enforce human rights protections that compel such action;
• Climate justice demands rapid mitigation to prevent irreversible, catastrophic harms that disproportionately affect younger and future generations.

The Advisory Opinion is a forceful statement of international law that recognizes and affirms the binding nature of the obligation to protect the environment from irreversible harm as a jus cogens norm. By taking such a bold position, the Court necessarily requires States to adopt many of the substantive measures that FACE/CHRE argued for in our brief. Based on the Court’s affirmation that the 1.5 degree Celsius guardrail is a “starting point” for action to protect human rights affected by the climate emergency, there can be no doubt that States are obligated by law to take immediate measures to implement a structural shift in energy, agricultural, and industrial policies that will allow society to live within a much tighter carbon budget and to ensure the protection of natural carbon sinks. The obligations recognized by the Court require States to pass laws and regulations that also reach the behavior of private entities as part of a human rights-based strategy to achieve mitigation targets in accordance with the proposals that our brief made to the Court. As FACE/CHRE requested, the Court makes clear that monitoring and oversight of States’ mitigation plans must be carried out through the requirement of environmental impact assessments, as well as by independent judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative bodies that can investigate, prosecute, and sanction violators, including companies. As FACE/CHRE called for, the Court’s opinion adopts a culturally sensitive framework that considers intergenerational justice, recognizing that youth, alongside indigenous communities and environmental defenders, are at the frontlines of the climate crisis and must be specially protected and heard from as part of States’ plans to limit the effects of the climate emergency. While the Court does not explicitly accept the FACE/CHRE’s proposed administrative measures, the opinion makes clear that States must act now to stop climate change. FACE/CHRE and their legal team will build on this momentum to find new ways to make climate justice enforceable.

The Court’s opinion reinforces the central premise of the brief: that intergenerational climate justice is not just an aspiration—it is a legal necessity.

“This opinion affirms what youth around the world have been demanding for years—that their rights and futures must be protected with real, enforceable climate action now,” said Trina Chiemi, founding co-chair of FACE.

FACE’s youth amicus was endorsed by nearly 30 youth organizations throughout the Americas after a year-long campaign to collect demands and stories from activists on the ground to present to the Inter-American Court. Hearings in the advisory proceedings were held in Barbados (April 23–25) and Brazil (May 24, 27–29) and involved a historic public participation process from thousands of groups, including States, Indigenous nations, unions, communities, NGOs, and young people. Hausfeld’s representation of CHRE and FACE in the amicus briefing and at oral argument continues the firm’s long-standing commitment to climate litigation that advances environmental justice and human rights on a global scale.

“This advisory opinion marks a turning point in history—a bold affirmation that climate justice is a human right, not just for us, but for every generation yet to come,” said Jovana Hoschtialek, a climate activist from Grenada who co-represented FACE during the Inter-American Court’s in-person hearings in Barbados last year.

About Hausfeld

Hausfeld is a global litigation firm known for shaping the law, advancing legal practice, and pursuing bold, high-stakes claims others won’t. Our experienced litigators and arbitrators have a proven track record across antitrust, commercial and financial disputes, environmental law, human rights, product liability, and technology-related issues. With 11 offices across the US, UK, and Europe, we consistently secure landmark settlements and precedent-setting decisions against some of the world’s most powerful opponents.

Socially minded and committed to access to justice, we champion strong corporate governance and serve both individuals and businesses. Recognized as one of the Financial Times’ most innovative law firms since 2013, Hausfeld has been honored for pioneering litigation funding and groundbreaking work in access to justice. Most recently, Hausfeld was the only plaintiffs’ firm named among FT North America’s Most Innovative Law Firms: Overall, and founder Michael Hausfeld was recognized in 2025 in FT’s 20 Years of Innovation report for transforming legal practice through class actions and litigation funding.

For more information about Hausfeld, including recent trial victories and landmark settlements, please visit www.hausfeld.com

Media Contacts:

Hausfeld - Lisa Sharrow: (202) 953-8177 or lsharrow@hausfeld.com

Center for Human Rights and Environment (CHRE), Fast Action on Climate to Ensure Intergenerational Justice (FACE) – Trina Chiemi: (919) 800-8341 or trinachiemi@gmail.com