Climate change case to open at UN court as island nations fear rising seas

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (AP/Richard Drew)

The top United Nations court will take up the largest case in its history when it opens two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations.

After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice last year for an opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.”