Friends of the Initiative

Our campaign for climate justice has great merit in igniting change in the world and saving our planet from catastrophic damage. The following great minds have joined us in supporting and agreeing that this campaign is vital and urgent.

We are proud to call this group our Friends of the Initiative

What our Friends of the Initiative are saying:

  • “The Vanuatu-led effort to secure a UN General Assembly resolution leading to an advisory opinion on climate justice from the International Court of Justice is crucial because it plants seeds of hope that the world's highest court will clarify States' obligations to implement ambitious climate action. After decades of heel-dragging by governments, a strong and clear advisory opinion could be the catalyst for accelerating the phase out of fossil fuels, urgent adaptation measures, fair compensation for loss and damage, and the mobilization of trillions of dollars needed to finance the transition to a renewable energy economy.”

    David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment

  • "The climate crisis is so grave that every lawful tool must be used to fight it. An advisory opinion from the ICJ could strengthen the important tool of international law in this effort. We are increasingly seeing domestic courts rely on international law in ordering their governments to take stronger actions on climate change, and this opinion could persuade more courts to act."

    Micheal Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice, Director - Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School

  • “The ongoing climate crisis demands action by our entire international community. States’ current emissions of greenhouse gas emissions threaten severe and long-term harm to our global climatic system and to all future generations. There is an urgent need for international solutions that pressure states to act. We need to use every available framework and tool to respond to this crisis. The Youth for Ecocide Law network is a strong proponent of using international legal tools to prevent environmental destruction and promote climate action. Current calls for an Advisory Opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice align well with our network’s focus on adding ‘ecocide’ as a fifth crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. We believe that the world’s biggest ecological crises demand action by the world’s highest courts. We stand in solidarity with our partners at World Youth for Climate Justice and with the Republic of Vanuatu in support of this UNGA resolution.”

    Amalie Wilkinson, Youth for Ecocide Law

  • "It has never been more important for countries with large resource-based economies, such as Canada, to understand their international law obligations to protect the climate system and other parts of the environment from GHG emissions, and the legal consequences of their acts and omissions. In the face of the climate emergency, securing an ICJ Advisory Opinion through the Vanuatu ICJAO resolution is an important step towards protecting the human rights of present and future generations."

    Prof. Sharon Mascher, Faculty of Law - University of Calgary, Senior Honorary Research Fellow - School of Law - University of Western Australia

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