India slammed developed countries for causing the climate crisis during a landmark hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday, saying they exploited the global carbon budget, failed to honour climate finance promises and are now demanding that developing countries restrict their resource use.

The court is examining what legal obligations countries have to address climate change and the consequences if they fail.

Making submissions on behalf of India, Luther M. Rangreji, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said, “If the contribution to degradation is unequal, the responsibility must also be unequal.” India said developing nations were the hardest hit by climate change, despite contributing the least to it.

“The developed world, which historically contributed the most, is ironically the best equipped with the technological and economic means to address this challenge,” Mr. Rangreji said.