For Vanuatu, ICJ opinion will represent a turning point in climate justice
Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation, has been a driving force behind efforts to get the International Court of Justice to issue its first advisory opinion on climate change.
On the eve of this crucial decision in The Hague, expected on Wednesday afternoon, AFP spoke with the country's Climate Change Minister, Ralph Regenvanu, 54, who opened the hearings of the ICJ, the UN's main judicial body, in December.
“Pacific Island leaders have made it very clear that climate change is the greatest threat to the future of Pacific Island peoples.”
“We are talking about climate change, the phenomenon that will take away our children's future.”
“For many Pacific countries, it is existential, because they will disappear, the low-lying countries like Tuvalu, like Kiribati.”
“If we can't reduce the damage we're seeing or try to contain it, we're really going to face the worst consequences very soon.”
"We hope the ICJ will declare that combating climate change is a legal obligation of states. Other states and their right to self-determination must be respected."
“Colonialism has disappeared, or so it is supposed, but this is a vestige (of colonialism) where its conduct as a state continues to suppress the future of the people of another country.”
"And you have no legal right to do so under international law. And not only that, if your actions have already caused this harm, there must be reparations."
“In Vanuatu, we are seeing large areas of land that were once habitable, and people who have lived there for a long time can no longer do so.”
“Another thing we’re seeing is more frequent and intense tropical cyclones, which are the most damaging natural weather event we have in Vanuatu.”
“The cyclone season is getting longer, we're seeing more extreme rainfall events that cause flooding, landslides, that kind of problem.”
"And the impact on the economy also affects the government. We're seeing a lot of damage that needs to be addressed by the state."
“We are seeing a large proportion of our GDP going just to reconstruction, recovery and preparedness.”
“We need assistance to build resilient public infrastructure so we don't have to keep spending money on reconstruction.”
"I feel optimistic. I think we'll get a good opinion, based on the previous opinions issued by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights."
“So we’re keeping our fingers crossed, but very hopeful that it will be a good outcome.”
“And I also think this will be a game changer for the entire climate discourse as we know it.”
"We've been through this situation for 30 years, you know, so this will change. It will change the narrative, which is what we need."
“I think the advisory opinion will be very powerful among states and for people to use when they try to sue their governments.”
"For every court, this will be something they can use. Whether it's a municipal or state court, they can use this new ruling to compel action, try to make governments more accountable and do more."
“But I also think that for countries like Vanuatu… we can use this to help us make our case.”
“Legal clarity will be provided on many of the things we have debated for so long.
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