In a landmark ruling published on July 3, 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued its Advisory Opinion No. 32, taking a historic step toward strengthening global climate accountability. For the first time, a regional human rights tribunal has clearly articulated the legal obligations of States in response to the climate crisis—establishing legal standards that governments across the Americas must meet to protect human rights and the environment.

The Court recognized the existence of an autonomous human right to a healthy climate, derived from the right to a healthy environment. The opinion affirms that States have binding legal obligations to address the climate emergency as a human rights issue, in line with domestic legislation and international treaties.

This decision is expected to catalyze a new wave of strategic climate litigation, strengthen previous decisions, such as that of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and serve as a key reference for the forthcoming advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

In this webinar, we analyzed the legal significance and practical implications of Advisory Opinion No. 32. Together with regional experts and movement leaders, we explored how the Court’s decision can guide climate action, strengthen legal tools to protect people and nature, and help deliver justice to affected communities across Latin America and beyond.

Panel

• Astrid Puentes, UN Special Rapporteur for the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
• Javier Palummo, Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights, IACHR.
• Catalina Fernández, Head of the Department of Multilateral Systems for the Protection of Human Rights and Bilateral Affairs, Chile's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Nora Cabrera Velasco, director of Nuestro Futuro.
• Fábio Ishisaki, public policy advisor to the Observatório do Clima.

Moderator: Marcella Ribeiro, AIDA.

Recording