Open-mic debate held at GCU on ICJ Advisory Opinion Resolution

An open-mic debate was held at the Government College University Lahore on the 24th November where youth overwhelmingly spoke in favor of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion Resolution to place human rights at the center of climate change decision-making. This is in light of the recent announcement by the Vanuatu government to bring climate change to the world’s highest court. To achieve this, Vanuatu has to get enough United Nations General Assembly members to vote in favor of their ICJ Climate Resolution. At COP27, Vanuatu recently announced that General Assembly will vote on the resolution on December 14, 2022.

GCU Lahore Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC) Director Prof. Dr Faiza Sharif opened the debate by shedding light on ICJ Climate Justice Movement and how Pacific Island Nations have been trying to get the world’s highest court to issue a legal statement, or an advisory opinion, on climate change.

The young students stressed that climate justice is a fundamental human right which is being undermined every second. They, however, believed it’s high time to fix this.  The students, joined by GCU Lahore vice-chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi and Kohsar University Murree vice-chancellor Prof. Dr Habib Ali Bokhari, also chanted the slogan “vote YES for climate justice”.  

The debate was organized by the GCU Lahore’s Environment Protection Society in collaboration with the World's Youth for Climate Justice in the context of Vanuatu’s appeal to the world leaders to vote in favor of ICJ Climate Resolution at the United Nations General Assembly. 

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