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More than a dozen Pacific island nations with a population of 280,000 are facing rising sea levels and more frequent storms.
Vanuatu asked the International Court of Justice to express an opinion on the right of present and future generations to be protected from the adverse effects of climate change.
Vanuatu has a population of approximately 280,000, distributed on approximately 80 islands. It is one of a dozen Pacific island nations facing rising sea levels and more frequent storms.
“In order to cope with the catastrophic climate change losses and damage that this small Pacific country is facing, Vanuatu recognizes that the current level of action and support for vulnerable developing countries within multilateral mechanisms is insufficient,” the government said in a statement on Saturday Say.
Vanuatu stated that it will put forward the initiative through the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Although the court’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, they have legal force and moral authority in view of their status as the highest UN court for handling disputes between countries. Its opinions can provide information for the development of international law.
Vanuatu stated that before the COP26 UN climate negotiations in Scotland in November, Vanuatu will “significantly expand its diplomacy and propaganda” and establish alliances with other Pacific islands and other vulnerable countries.
Caleb Pollard, chairperson of Pacific Island Students’ Fight against Climate Change, said that the global response so far is “mainly Band-Aid solutions. In fact, they are just buying more time and failing to provide meaningful changes.”
Pollard said in a statement: “We must address the crisis by systematically targeting the root cause of one of the biggest and most imminent threats we face today.”
In April, Tropical Cyclone Harold struck Vanuatu, destroying a tourist attraction in Tonga, another South Pacific island country, causing a week-long damage in four island countries and killing more than two dozen people.
In 2015, about 64% of the island nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) disappeared in a hurricane, causing nearly US$450 million in economic losses.
In 2019, Vanuatu considered taking legal action against large pollution sources thousands of kilometers away because of the impact of rising sea temperature, strong hurricanes and unstable weather patterns.
Due to climate change, Vanuatu and other South Pacific countries are being forced to spend more money not only to protect themselves, but also to keep their businesses running.
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