With the close of COP29, attention now turns to The Hague, where Vanuatu’s historic climate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to begin on 02 December.
The case, supported by 110 UN member states and intergovernmental organisations, could have significant implications for global climate action.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Special Envoy for Climate Change and Environment, expressed frustration over the lack of progress in global climate talks.
“After two consecutive meetings hosted by nations whose economies depend on fossil fuel extraction, we continue to migrate away from holding global warming below 1.5⁰C — the stated goal of these meetings and the 2016 Paris Agreement.
“The commitments made in Baku — the dollar amounts pledged, and the emissions reductions promised — are not enough. They were never going to be enough. And even then, based on our experience with such pledges in the past, we know they will not be fulfilled.
“Just before the September United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, Europe was hammered by unprecedented rain and flooding. Two months later, New York City was plagued by historic drought and brushfires. All throughout, large swathes of the Amazon rainforest burned hot enough to generate national emergencies. The inability of the Global North to make a dent in the climate crisis — much less derail it — is a global tragedy.
“The limitations of the UNFCCC process motivate our case at the International Court of Justice. The ICJ Advisory Opinion has the potential to strengthen the Paris Agreement framework by clarifying the legal obligations of States under international law to act on climate change — obligations which have been disregarded for too long. This includes obligations to finance adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable countries and to address loss and damage. It could help close the glaring gaps in climate finance that COP29 once again left unresolved.
“All of us on this planet are affected by climate change — regardless of your location, your belief in the science, or your motivation to reduce emissions. We need justice and we need it urgently,” said Regenvanu in a statement.
