Finding the ‘rosetta stone’? Concluding remarks on the role of advisory opinions in international law in the context of the climate crisis

As a conclusion, this chapter provides a quick overview of the main findings of the book, presented not chapter by chapter, but rather in a topical manner. First, the chapter looks to the message of hope for concerned States, civil society movements, and individuals, who were able to conduct parallel initiatives that ended up with the submission of three requests for advisory opinions before three of the major international courts and tribunals. Second, the chapter assesses the expected impact of advisory opinions on climate change, namely in international and domestic lawmaking and judicial proceedings. These impacts prove that advisory opinions are taken seriously, as can be noticed in the recent agreement between the United Kingdom, Mauritius, and the United States of America concerning the sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago. Third, and finally, the chapter analyses the critical areas for future research so that these advisory opinions are a first but decisive step for future judicial development of international law – ie, how the advisory opinions may be used as a ‘Rosetta Stone’ to clarify and develop international climate law.