The International Seabed Authority in Hamburg has classified greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the ocean as marine pollution.

This decision was prompted by small island states like Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas.

The ruling was supported by an Advisory Opinion from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

Over 165 countries party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are mandated to reduce, control, and prevent such pollution.

The opinion emphasizes the importance of scientific evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

This sets a significant precedent for international courts dealing with environmental issues and holds major polluters like China and the United States accountable.

The decision is seen as a crucial step towards climate justice and may influence future legal opinions on climate obligations, especially for high-emitting States and vulnerable small island nations.