The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold public hearings starting December 2, 2024, concerning a landmark case on state obligations related to climate change, following a request from the UN General Assembly. The court will explore two key questions: the legal responsibilities of countries under international law to mitigate human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and the consequences of their inaction, particularly for vulnerable small island developing States and future generations. A total of 62 countries and organizations have submitted written comments, which will be considered during the hearings. Although the ICJ's advisory opinions are not legally binding, they hold significant political and legal weight and may influence numerous climate-related lawsuits globally. The hearings represent a crucial step in defining international climate obligations, amid ongoing concerns about the roles of major emitters like the US and China, which did not support the UN request. The expected opinion could take years to finalize but is anticipated to encourage nations to intensify their climate actions.