By Pita Ligaiula in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Vanuatu Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu says the Pacific must quickly translate the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change into concrete reforms at national, regional, and global levels.
“One of the most important next steps is to bring the advisory opinion back to the UN General Assembly for
endorsement,” Regenvanu told a side event on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.
“This is standard practice, and we are working with our Pacific partners to build support among countries for this resolution.”
He said the General Assembly resolution is expected next month during International Law Week, calling it a big opportunity to operationalise the ICJ ruling.
“This means establishing implementation mechanisms, driving structural change, and turning legal authority into practical accountability,” Regenvanu said.
He urged all Pacific Island countries to ensure their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) reflect the ICJ opinion, with discussions on integration expected at the upcoming pre-COP meetings in October.
At the regional level, Regenvanu said the opinion should be embedded into Pacific climate governance, including
recognising the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
He said the planned Pacific Islands Legal Office would play a key role in strengthening legal capacity and setting binding standards.
“At the national level, our Council of Ministers has already agreed to embed the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment into our Constitution,” he said.
“We also need to empower communities to document harm, because documenting harm is essential for accessing reparations.”
Regenvanu stressed that the advisory opinion must be linked to finance, loss and damage, maritime security, and protections for climate-displaced communities.
“The next steps are clear. We must act together to fully support the UN resolution, translate the authority of the advisory opinion into structural reforms, and safeguard our people, cultures, and futures,” he said.
