{"id":47695,"date":"2022-11-30T14:52:24","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T14:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/?p=47695"},"modified":"2022-12-02T14:17:46","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T14:17:46","slug":"vanuatu-publishes-draft-resolution-seeking-climate-justice-at-un-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2022\/11\/30\/vanuatu-publishes-draft-resolution-seeking-climate-justice-at-un-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Vanuatu publishes draft resolution seeking climate justice at UN court"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vanuatu has published a draft UN resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states’ legal obligation for climate action and the consequences of causing harm.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the court, which is the UN’s main judiciary arm, has no binding authority, its opinion could inform lawsuits around the world and strengthen vulnerable countries’ position in international negotiations.<\/p>\n

Vanuatu is facing sea level rise and increasingly powerful cyclones that periodically cripple its economy. As emissions rise and the world remains off track to meet its climate goals, overheating is threatening the archipelago’s ecology, livelihoods and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The draft resolution<\/a> aims to establish the legal avenues for climate justice for present and future generations. It was prepared with a broad coalition of 17 countries, including Angola, Bangladesh, Germany, Mozambique, New Zealand, Portugal and Vietnam and a number of small island states.<\/p>\n

Kevin Chand, a legal advisor to Vanuatu\u2019s permanent mission at the UN, told Climate Home more than 100 countries have indicated they will support the resolution – over the simple majority threshold<\/a> of countries needed to give the ICJ a mandate in a vote at the UN general assembly. But he is not stopping there. “We are looking for a larger majority because this is a signal to the court,” Chand said.<\/p>\n

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The draft resolution is out! This has been a long time coming for the #ICJAO4Climate<\/a> camp and we look to the next steps. Thank you to the core group 🇦🇴🇦🇬🇧🇩🇨🇷🇫🇲🇩🇪🇱🇮🇲🇦🇲🇿🇳🇿🇵🇹🇷🇴🇼🇸🇸🇱🇸🇬🇺🇬🇻🇳🇻🇺 for your incredible engagement and efforts over the past few months, still more work ahead 🌏 https:\/\/t.co\/XlDdInN7mo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ambassador Odo Tevi (@odo_tevi) November 30, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n