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The Republic of Vanuatu files its written submission to the Hague.

22nd of March 2024 marks a significant milestone for The Republic of Vanuatu as it submits its written statements to the International Court of Justice in The Hague 🌱🌍

Regional organizations : PIFS MSG FFA

First Caribbean ICJ Writeshop

The First Caribbean ICJ Write shop took place in Grenada on February 15-16, 2024, organized by the governments of Grenada, Vanuatu, and the OACPS, with the participation of representatives from 11 Caribbean States.

Over the past week, the Vanuatu Climate Diplomacy collaborated with the SPC team to organize a dynamic 2-day national workshop that gathered valuable insights and testimonies from Directors and communities in urban and rural areas of Kiribati.

These testimonies vividly depict the real and pressing impacts of climate change on the beautiful island nation and will also play a crucial role in shaping the ICJ advisory opinion.

ICJAO Evidence Collection in Tanna

The Attorney General of Vanuatu and a team of lawyers representing the Office of the Attorney-General of Vanuatu visited Tanna in early January 2024 to gather first-hand accounts of the impacts of climate change on communities.

Africa, Caribbean & Pacific block to make ICJ submission!

The Court has authorised the OACPS to prepare a written submission. The OACPS is the largest block of developing countries that will likely bring new levels of ambition to the court proceedings now before the ICJ

Pacific nations break new ground with 1st regional write shop with legal officials on ICJ Submissions, gathering to develop shared strategies and approaches to ensure the most vulnerable nations are heard at the International Court of Justice.

Arnold Kiel Loughman, Attorney General of the Republic of Vanuatu, led the gathering in July 2023. “We want to make sure the views and opinions of each government of the region are heard by the ICJ about this advisory opinion towards climate change,” Loughman said.

He highlighted the barriers faced by Pacific Small Island Developing States when it comes to making submissions to the ICJ. “We recognize that climate change is one of the existential threats facing us today that is why we must come together. We cannot do this individually, but strategically as a group."

There will soon be similar write shops in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia where countries with similar contests will be allowed to share their approaches and learn from top legal experts the ICJ processes.

Vanuatu has produced a "template" submission and legal briefs which are aimed at helping developing countries make the most ambitious and comprehensive submissions which highlight substantive obligations, and the range of legal consequences for breaching these obligations, including full reparations.

Submissions are due by 22 January 2024, and then a second round of submissions will allow states to respond to each other views before oral hearings are scheduled before the Court later in 2024.

The United Nations adopts historic resolution seeking clarity on countries’ climate change and human rights obligations under international law

Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau calls decision “a win for climate justice of epic proportions”

Resolution introduced by 18 core countries led by Vanuatu, Co Sponsored by 132 States and championed by youth groups—asks the UN’s International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on a critical set of questions on climate obligations

Communications Pack Here

Climate Attribution, the ICJ and Responsibility for Climate Harm Wall Street Journal

Preparations underway for adoption of an historic Resolution on Climate Justice at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday 29 March 2023

"We believe that this Resolution will help save the Paris Agreement as its preamble makes it clear that all States ‘should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights’. We are asking for clarification from the ICJ on exactly these State obligations." - Vanuatu's Minister of Climate Change, Hon Ralph Regenvanu

Media Advisory Full Text 23/3/23

Vanuatu and Pacific nations adopt the Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific on 17 March 2023

"We call for A Fossil Fuel Free Pacific and a global, just and equitable phase out of coal, oil and gas"

Full Call available here.

Date of ICJ Resolution Adoption is set!

Wednesday, 29 March 2023

10:00 a.m. – General Assembly Hall of the United Nations

Report of the International Court of Justice [item 70]: Draft resolution (A/77/L.58)

Action on the draft resolution

https://www.un.org/en/ga/info/meetings/77schedule.shtml

Twin Cyclone disasters in Vanuatu over last 72 hours remind us why States must act within the bounds of existing International Law to prevent activities that cause climate harm to the most vulnerable.

“For the present and future generations of Vanuatu, and vulnerable people globally in every nation from North to South, Developed to Developing, it is time for States and corporations to uphold their legal obligations and the rule of international law relevant to climate change.” “On behalf of our climate ravaged villages, I thank the more than 110 high ambition countries who are, as of today, registered as Co-Sponsors on this Resolution, and ask all remaining nations to immediately indicate their support its Adoption at the UN General Assembly in the coming weeks.” - Hon Jotham Napat, Vanuatu's Minister of Foreign Affairs

Full Press Release 3 March 2023.

105 Co Sponsors of the UN Climate Justice Resolution on 1 March 2023

Lets celebrate these global leaders in climate ambition!!!

Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu and Viet Nam

More High ambition climate leading States are still able Co-Sponsor the Resolution through to adoption by the General Assembly,
on 29 March 2023.

Translations of the Resolution are available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Portuguese.

Press Release

Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau gives an update on the ICJ Climate Change Initiative.

For Our Children

Press Release

Final Resolution to the UNGA on Climate Justice has been Released by Vanuatu and Core Group of 18 Countries!

Press Release

Hon Jotham Napat, Minister of Foreign Affairs International Cooperation and External Trade

2nd Draft ICJ Resolution Released!

30 January 2023. see the text of the Resolution here

Press Release with quotes from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Jotham Napat

"“This resolution comes after more than 12 months of worldwide consultations and with the growing support of over 80 countries,” Vanuatu’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and and External Trade Hon. Jotham Napat said.

“The Court will address what has brought humanity to the brink of collapse and threatens the very existence of countries and the human rights of individuals and peoples of present and future generations - climate change.”

“The ICJ Advisory Opinion will clarify, for all States, our obligations under a range of international laws, treaties and agreements, so that we can all do more to protect vulnerable people across the world.”