Posted on 27 July 2023
On Monday, regional officials from 16 Pacific nations came together in Nadi for the Regional Writeshop on Pacific Island Countries' Submissions to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change. This comes following the UN’s adoption of the Vanuatu led resolution in April, requesting the ICJ to give an advisory opinion on climate change.
This writeshop was designed to help support Pacific Island governments in the legal drafting process and strengthening nations’ submissions to the ICJ. Siromi Turanga, Fiji Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, opened the gathering, discussing how “addressing climate change is the challenge of our lifetime and Pacific communities are at the centre of this crisis.”
He ultimately says the week of workshops is the opportunity to make these connections, and Pacific reality, clear. “We must not shy away from demanding climate justice for all,” Turanga says.