The International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest judicial body, is beginning landmark hearings on global warming. Here’s a guide.

Officials from almost 100 countries are at the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, asking the court to issue an opinion on the responsibility of certain nations to protect the planet from climate change.

The top United Nations court has taken up the largest case in its history, hearing the plight of several small island nations helpless in combating the devastating impact of climate change.