The Tribunal confirmed that States party to UNCLOS must take measures to prevent marine pollution caused by climate change, on top of their obligations under the Paris Agreement.

On 9 April 2024, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS, or the Tribunal) issued a longawaited advisory opinion on climate change and international law, concluding that States party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are subject to specific obligations to prevent, reduce, and control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their adverse effect on the marine environment.