Yang Bowen
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is requested to provide an advisory opinion on the specific obligations of states parties regarding climate change under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This opinion recognizes that greenhouse gas emissions constitute pollution of the marine environment and emphasizes the necessity for states to take measures to mitigate such pollution. Legally, this opinion clarifies the necessity of collective action in addressing climate change, thereby advancing the concept of climate justice. However, the advisory opinions serve merely as ‘primary rules’, failing to elaborate on how to demonstrate the causal link between mitigation actions and the harm suffered by other states, as well as the manner in which state responsibility for climate-induced loss and damage should be borne. Divergent views among states regarding the classification of greenhouse gases as pollutants highlight the complexities and uncertainties of climate policy. To promote compatibility between climate law and maritime law, this article argues that ITLOS should prioritize the establishment of an ‘assistance-based’ loss and damage compensation mechanism. This mechanism aims to support developing states severely affected by climate change through collective international efforts rather than solely through compensation. Furthermore, the advisory opinion is expected to play a crucial role in protecting marine environments and addressing climate change, to further clarify the duty of care that states must exercise in climate governance.
内容提要 国际海洋法法庭就《联合国海洋法公约》框架下缔约国在气候变化领域的具体义务发表咨询意见。该意见认定温室气体排放构成海洋环境污染，并强调各国必须采取措施减缓此类污染。在法律层面，该意见阐明了集体行动应对气候变化的必要性，由此推动气候正义理念的发展。但是咨询意见仅发挥“初步的、指引性的规则”功能，既未阐明如何证明减缓行动与他国所受损害之间存在因果关系，也未说明气候相关损失与损害的国家责任应如何承担。各国对温室气体是否属于污染物的分类分歧，凸显了气候政策的复杂性与不确定性。为促进气候法与海洋法的兼容性，本文主张，国际海洋法法庭应优先建立基于援助性的损失损害补偿机制，通过国际集体行动而非单纯赔偿方式，为受气候变化严重影响的发展中国家提供支持。此外，此项咨询意见有望在保护海洋环境与应对气候变化方面发挥关键作用，进而明晰各国在全球气候治理中须履行的注意义务。