(Suva) The Pacific islands, threatened by climate change, on Monday requested arbitration from the UN’s International Court of Justice on the countries’ legal obligations to fight climate change, to increase pressure on the polluting nations.
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In a statement issued after a summit in Suva last week, Pacific leaders made a joint call for the Court in The Hague to clarify states’ obligation “to protect the rights of generations present and future against the adverse effects of climate change”.
The region, they said, is in a “climate emergency” posing an “existential” threat to their survival.
The islands, many of which are low-lying, are already being affected by climate change, and hope the move will reinforce the legal risks faced by major emitters and spur them to action.
The plan will have to receive the support of a majority of countries at the United Nations General Assembly in September to be submitted to the highest international court.
“I have been clear and consistent in our call for more ambitious climate commitments,” Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said after the summit, which ended on Thursday.
“We need to end our dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal. This is what we ask of Australia, New Zealand” and all high-emitting countries, he added.
Australia, a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, is one of the largest coal and gas exporters in the world.
Greenpeace welcomed Australia’s support for the International Court of Justice to rule on climate change, adding that Canberra should also “pursue more ambitious climate action by committing not to launch new coal and gas projects “.