BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Collin Beck, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) National Committee co-chair, has thanked Solomons students, together with Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, for bringing the issue of climate change to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFC) is a youth-led organisation whose members are students from Pacific Island countries, including Solomon Islands.
In March 2019, 27 USP Law students from 8 Pacific Island countries came together and campaigned to convince the Pacific Island Forum leaders to seek an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ on climate change and human rights.
“We have this year, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion on the issue of climate change. We need to unpack that and consider the responsibility of the state as far as climate change is concerned.
“On this note, I want to acknowledge the youths, especially our youths from Solomon, who participate in terms of helping and facilitating to work with the Vanuatu government to push the issue to the ICJ in Hague, to make an advisory opinion on it.
“So, to the youth, thank you so much for doing something for humanity, but also doing something that the region identified as the number one threat,” said Mr Beck.
Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague, Netherlands, issued its advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.
The ICJ ruled that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and act with due diligence and cooperation to fulfil this obligation.
The Court further ruled that if states breach these obligations, they incur legal responsibility and may be required to cease the wrongful conduct, offer guarantees of non-repetition and make full reparation depending on the circumstances.
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