Latin American Youth: Shaping Global Climate Justice at the World's Court

Capacity builing on climate justice in Costa Rica, April 2023. 

Introduction

Even though the doors of the world's court are often closed to civil society and those most impacted, we have not given up. From Mexico to Chile, the Latin American Front of the World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ)  has been diligently collaborating with Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the Americas, advocating for the rights and voices of future generations to be reflected in the climate justice proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

Our Contributions

Since March 2023, our focus has been on integrating youth perspectives into the climate legal framework through structured legal inputs. We've provided detailed briefs to several countries, emphasizing the importance of recognizing intergenerational equity as a fundamental legal principle before the International Court of Justice. Our legal briefs serve as a guide for states to craft more ambitious climate commitments, ensuring that the policies of today do not compromise the rights of tomorrow.

Our Requests

We urge each state to consider our arguments and requests thoughtfully as they participate in international proceedings. Our proposals are designed not just to provoke action but to sustain it across generations. Here’s what we are advocating for:

• Involving Youth in the Advisory Proceedings: We believe in the power of youth as agents of change. Hence, we're pushing for more significant youth involvement in the advisory proceedings on climate change, ensuring that our collective future is shaped by those who will live it. We encourage states to involve youth in the drafting of written statements before the Court and ensure they are represented in the public hearings.

• Recognizing Intergenerational Equity as Binding International Law: We request states to formally recognize the principle of intergenerational equity as a binding norm within international law, ensuring it guides future climate action. This includes assessing long-term human rights impacts of climate policy on future generations and ensure meaningful youth participation in decision-making.

• Including Witness Statements of Affected Youth and Frontline Communities: Understanding the restricted participation before the ICJ, we advocate for including witness statements from youth and those most affected by climate change in State’s briefs the ICJ. We believe these personal experiences highlight the tangible human rights impacts of climate change and most potently reflect the gaps in current climate change governance.

Participation in legal writeshop in Santiago, May 2024 (Mariana, Deputy Front Convenor).

Looking Forward

Launched in 2022, the WYCJ’s Latin American Front connects stubborn optimists from Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Costa Rica. We leverage international law to demand states ensure a liveable future, focusing on the urgent needs of the Global South. Our legal briefs provide clear directives on what States must do to uphold the rights of present and future generations.

The request for an advisory opinion originated from the passionate advocacy of youth, with intergenerational equity at its very core. States must heed the voices of the youth: we expect states to respond to our call—the legal frameworks we propose are essential and urgent to enable climate justice.