WYCJ Calls on UN Delegates to Support Climate Justice Advisory Opinion
On 25th October 2022, six campaigners of WYCJ and PISFCC called on UN General Assembly delegates to support the Vanuatu-led request for an Advisory Opinion on climate change and human rights by the International Court of Justice. The call to action took place during a high-level meeting hosted by the Government of Vanuatu and Blue Ocean Law, opposite the UN Headquarters in New York.
The high-level meeting ‘The Promise of an Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the International Court of Justice’ commenced with welcoming remarks by H.E. Fatumanava-o-Upolo III Pa’olelei LUteru, the Permanent Representative of Samoa to the UN, who shared Samoa’s support to Vanuatu’s initiative. The meeting was opened by H.E. Odo Tevi, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN, who announced the core group of countries supporting Vanuatu’s initiative to request an ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change and human rights. Ambassador Tevi also paid tribute to the youth efforts that propelled the initiative.
The first panel discussion ‘Dimensions of an ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change’ was chaired by Vanuatu’s Attorney-General, Arnold Kiel Loughman. Panelists included Dr. Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh legal advisor to the Vanuatu government, Prof. Nilufer Oral member of the International Law Commission, and H.E. Maritza Chan, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN. The panelists outlined the potential benefits of an ICJ Advisory Opinion including clarifying the obligations of states to prevent harmful climate change, and the procedural route to request an ICJ Advisory Opinion.
The second panel discussion ‘Benefits of an ICJ Advisory Opinion for Global Climate Action’ was chaired by Dame Meg Taylor, former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum. Panelists included Ms. Catharine Amirfar, lawyer at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, H.E. Mohamed Siad Doualeh of Djibou, Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the United Nations, and José Daniel Rodríguez, campaigner for World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ). “We believe that the AO will be instrumental for the protection of our rights, as it will provide the ICJ with a golden opportunity to provide clarity on the obligations that stem from the principle of intergenerational equity” said José, from WYCJ.
The event was concluded with a call to action by six campaigners of WYCJ and Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change: Samira Ben Ali from France, Jule Schnakenberg from Germany, Jose Daniel Rodriguez from Costa Rica, Vishal Prasad from Fiji, Solomon Yeo from the Solomon Islands, and Aoife Fleming from the Netherlands. The call to action, named ‘Would You At Least Try?’ called on UN delegates to support Vanuatu’s efforts for the protection of Planet Earth for their grandchildren.
