For decades now, scientists and weather experts have reached the conclusion that observable global weather changes have been caused by human activity. Science that arrived at that conclusion is simple. It focuses on the burning of fossil fuels that produce carbon dioxide which gets trapped in upper atmosphere and prevents world weather from becoming part of the global system.

The burning of coal, gas and oil are not the only sources of emissions of climate-altering gases. They are also produced by the burning of fuel by motor vehicles and aircrafts. The development of artificial intelligence needs a lot of energy; supplying it would add further strain on global weather system.

The United Nations system is now involved in studying and preventing global weather change. On July 22, the International Court of Justice based in The Hague issued a strongly worded opinion saying that states must protect their citizens from the "urgent and existential threat of climate change". This statement constituted a major contribution for the global environmental movement and for the countries at the greatest risk of harm. This was the first time that the court, which is the United Nations highest judicial body, has pronounced a judgement on climate change.

The court's unanimous decision held that the failure of nations to take action to protect the climate system may constitute an "internationally wrongful act". It also found that protection of the environment is "a precondition for ensuring human rights and cited government support of fossil-fuel production as a violation of these principles".

Judge Iwasawa Yuji,........

© The Express Tribune