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

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ClimaTalk
Youth and Environment Europe
Students Organising for Sustainability International
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Island Innovation
Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network
UN Youth Impact
European Youth Forum
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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

ALYN WARE

Peace Educator and Campaigner & Right Livelihood Award Recipient

 ‘This initiative of youth to take the issue of climate protection to the International Court of Justice is of vital importance to the survival of humanity and the planet. These young people realise that current international climate agreements and national commitments are constrained by political considerations, competition and the tragedy of the global commons. As a result, the agreements and commitments are woefully inadequate to prevent catastrophic climate change. What is needed is the application of customary international law which protects the environment and the rights of future generations, and which transcends national, competitive interests. The International Court of Justice, the world’s supreme judicial organ, is the correct body to determine and enact such law. And young people, whose rights are being trampled by climate change, are the right constituency to bring this case to the Court. We should offer them all the support we can.’

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