The conference delivered by Professor Fabián Raimundo, as part of the Master’s Program in Climate Change Management at UNED, offered a unique perspective on the role of international law in addressing the global challenge of climate change. Raimundo is an Associate Professor of International Law at Maastricht University and a practicing lawyer before international tribunals, with experience at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In this session, he shared his professional experience in the recent advisory proceedings on States’ obligations regarding climate change. The seminar did not focus on the technical content of the advisory opinion issued by the ICJ in July, but rather on the process that led to it: from the diplomatic initiative spearheaded by Vanuatu to the historic hearings at the Peace Palace, where 96 States and 11 international organizations participated. Raimundo explained the stages of the procedure, the legal positions of different country blocs, and the lessons this case offers for climate diplomacy and international law.
With a practical and reflective approach, the conference highlighted how international law, even without direct enforcement, can generate moral authority and guide global policies. It was an invitation to understand the symbolic and transformative value of law as a common language in the fight against the climate crisis.
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