Pacific Island Nations are uniting to make their voices heard in the global fight against climate change, with leaders from across the region gathering in Fiji this week to prepare for a landmark legal initiative at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Speaking at the ICJ workshop in Nadi today, Attorney-General Graham Leung commended the governments of the Pacific Community for sharing a platform which will focus on preparing legal strategies for the upcoming ICJ advisory opinion on the obligations of states to address climate change.
He shared that this is more than a legal exercise.
“It is for many of us, our survival, our future and the future of generations to come.”
“The impacts of climate change are already threatening our homes, as we saw last night, our livelihoods as well as our cultures. Rising sea levels, the intensity and frequency of cyclones in the Pacific, and changing weather patterns are forcing us to face very harsh realities.”
The ICJ workshop is expected to provide crucial clarity on the international legal obligations related to climate change, particularly regarding state responsibility, environmental protection, and human rights.
Pacific Island nations who are the most vulnerable to climate change impacts are seeking to hold larger, high emission states accountable for their role in the global climate crises.
“Although our Pacific island states contribute little to global emissions, we suffer disproportionately from their consequences. This imbalance gives us a right, as well as a responsibility to make our voices heard,” the Attorney-General emphasised.
The ICJ workshop will focus on preparing legal arguments for the oral hearings scheduled for December at the Hague where Pacific nations will present their case before the ICJ. The event is also designed to build capacity among the Pacific legal teams, strengthening regional solidarity and ensuring that the unique challenges faced by the Pacific Island Nations are effectively communicated to the world’s highest court.
“Our legal submissions must reflect this imperative and highlight the moral responsibility that accompanies state obligations under international law.”
“We may be small, but together, we are stronger by uniting our voices, we amplify our message and ensure that our arguments will carry weight in the right international forum.”
The forum will also look at extensive discussion on the legal principles such as the no harm rule, common but differentiated responsibilities and human rights obligations in the context of climate change.
The Pacific regions' push for the international legal accountability marks a historic moment in the global climate justice movement. The outcome of the ICJ proceedings could shape future international climate agreements creating enforceable mechanisms to protect venerable nations from the devastating effects of climate change.
The coalition government along with other Pacific Island Countries have reaffirmed their commitment to standing together as a region to advocate for climate justice ensuring that those most affected by climate change have a voice in shaping the legal frameworks that will govern global climate action for decades to come.