WHAT: The African Union Commission (Office of the Legal Counsel) will host a Post Advisory Opinion Workshop on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change.
WHEN: Monday, 03 November 2025
TIME: Starting from 9H00am (EAT)
WHERE: Small Conference Room 1 (NCC building), African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
FORMAT: Hybrid (Physical & Virtual)
OBJECTIVES:
1. This high-level workshop will unpack the ICJ’s landmark Advisory Opinion on climate change, delivered on 23 July 2025, which defines the binding obligations of States under international law to protect the climate system for present and future generations.
2. Building on the African Union’s active participation in the proceedings, the event will:
• Present the AU Assessment Report summarizing the Opinion’s key findings and implications for Africa.
• Facilitate direct exchanges among AU Member States, Permanent Representatives, the relevant AUC Departments, AU Organs, RECs, and external legal experts on translating the Advisory Opinion into concrete international, regional, and national actions.
• Identify priority legal, policy, and institutional measures to strengthen Africa’s coordinated response to climate change and enhance its collective voice in global climate negotiations.
Expected Outcomes
1. Enhanced understanding of the ICJ Opinion and its relevance to Africa’s climate and human rights agenda.
2. Practical recommendations for national implementation, regional cooperation, and global advocacy.
3. A roadmap for integrating legal obligations into AU and Member State climate frameworks.
Participants
The workshop will bring together:
1. Officials from AU Member States’ Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs,
Environment, and Climate Change;
2. Representatives of AU Organs, Judicial, Human Rights, and Legal Bodies;
3. Regional Economic Communities (RECs);
4. External legal experts and counsels involved in the ICJ proceedings.
Media representatives are invited to cover the opening session and selected segments of the workshop on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change
For media inquiries, please contact:
1. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africanunion.org
2. Mr. Olatoundji Francis Adanlao | Legal Officer | Office of the Legal Counsel | E-mail: Adanlaoo@africanunion.org
3. Ms. Meseret Fassil Assefa | Associate Legal Officer | Office of the Legal Counsel | E-mail: Meseretf@africanunion.org
