Pacific islands seek international court to rule on climate

Pacific islands threatened by climate change on Monday asked the International Court of Justice to rule on countries’ legal obligations to halt climate change, a move said to increase pressure on polluting nations.

In a statement released last week after a summit in Fiji, Pacific leaders jointly called on the court in The Hague to clarify states’ obligations to “protect the rights of present and future generations from the adverse effects of climate change to protect”.

The islands – many low-lying and already battered by climate change – hope the move will introduce increased levels of legal exposure for high-carbon countries and spur action.

Leaders also said the region is facing a climate emergency that poses an “existential” threat.

The plan needs the support of a majority at the United Nations General Assembly in September to go before the International Court of Justice.

The initiative started in 2019 in a classroom at the University of the South Pacific. About 27 law students wrote to Pacific leaders asking them to take up the campaign — and Vanuatu answered the call.

One of those involved was Vishal Prasad, a 26-year-old university student from Fiji.

He told AFP during the Suva summit last week that even a non-binding “opinion” from the International Court of Justice would have “far-reaching implications”.

Prasad said he hoped the court would let polluters know.

For young people in the Pacific, “the existential threat, the reality” of climate change is “quite scary,” he said.

Rising sea levels and stronger storms are already causing serious problems across the Pacific.

“We are already seeing effects on a daily basis. We are seeing the onset of hurricanes,” Prasad said. “We see communities being relocated.”

Tuvaluan Foreign Minister Simon Kofe told AFP he would like to see support for Vanuatu’s campaign as it “is consistent with our efforts to protect our people affected by climate change”.

Smaller islands are also looking to the other members of the Pacific Island Forum in Australia and New Zealand to do more.

Australia is one of the world’s largest coal and gas exporters.

“I have been clear and consistent in our call for more ambitious climate commitments,” Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said after the summit, which ended on Thursday.

“We must end our dependence on fossil fuels, including coal. That is our demand on Australia, New Zealand” and all high-emission countries, he added.

Greenpeace hailed Australia’s support for the International Court of Justice to rule on climate change.

“However, this support cannot be viewed in isolation,” said Greenpeace Australia campaigner Steph Hodgins-May.

“Australia must not only champion the path to climate justice through campaigning for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, but also pursue more ambitious climate action by committing to no new coal and gas projects.”