Forum Leaders have hailed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on climate change as a landmark win for the region and urged countries worldwide to use it to strengthen their climate commitments.
“Leaders commended the ICJ AO on climate change as a powerful affirmation of what the region can achieve when it works together as one Blue Pacific, and acknowledged with appreciation the leadership by the Government of Vanuatu on this matter,” the communiqué stated.
The ICJ opinion, issued in 2025, was the result of a campaign first launched by Vanuatu in 2021 with the support of Pacific youth activists, particularly the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change.
Backed by Forum members and more than 130 countries at the UN General Assembly, the resolution asked the ICJ to clarify states’ legal obligations to protect the climate system for present and future generations.
Forum Leaders praised the role of students, civil society, and regional organisations in keeping up international pressure until the advisory opinion was delivered.
They called on all countries, including Forum members, to apply the ICJ opinion in implementing national and international obligations on climate change.
Leaders “strongly encouraged all Forum Members to consider the ICJ AO when engaging in international climate change negotiations and associated processes, and to uphold the importance of maintaining the 1.5°C global temperature goal in accordance with the Paris Agreement.”
The communiqué urged governments to submit updated and ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30, stressing that major economies must close the ambition gap. Leaders also agreed to work on a follow-up resolution at the UN General Assembly to build on the ICJ opinion.
Reaffirming that “climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of peoples of the Pacific,” Forum leaders pledged to advance a unified regional voice under the 2050 Strategy.
They endorsed support for Australia’s bid to host COP31 in 2026 as a Pacific COP, backed governance arrangements for the event, and welcomed Türkiye’s willingness to cooperate on the process despite its competing bid.
“Leaders also commended Türkiye’s ongoing commitment to addressing climate change, including through its own bid to host COP31, and welcomed the opportunity to constructively work with Türkiye to demonstrate the region’s commitment to the multilateral system at a challenging time,” the communique said.
