In this post, Professor Bradlow examines how the International Court of Justice’s 2025 climate change advisory opinion may influence African sovereign debt negotiations. While debt talks have traditionally centered on economics and contracts, they often neglect environmental and social impacts. The ICJ affirmed states’ duties under customary international law to cooperate and prevent environmental harm. Professor Bradlow highlights how this opens new avenues for African debtors, creditors, and activists to push for climate-conscious debt restructuring, link debt to human rights obligations, and hold financial institutions accountable for environmental and social consequences.

In this week’s AML blog piece, Wandile observes that South Africa’s Climate Change Act represents a step forward in aligning the country with global climate commitments. However, he notes that the recently enacted Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act undermines this progress by promoting the exploration of fossil fuels. He argues that this contradiction threatens environmental rights, deepens inequality, and reveals a troubling disconnect between South Africa’s climate goals and its fossil fuel-driven development agenda.