#ICJAO Campaign
Building a global alliance for a Climate Justice Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice!
In September 2021, the Government of Vanuatu announced its intentions to take climate change to the International Court of Justice seeking an Advisory Opinion. Such an advisory opinion would be a potent tool in bolstering state action on climate change, complement and strengthen the Paris Agreement, integrate human rights and climate change law and provide necessary baselines for state action on climate change.
The road to the ICJ requires the UN General Assembly to pass a resolution requesting the ICJ to provide its opinion on the matter. This September, this resolution will be tabled before UN member states and a simple majority vote will be needed in order to refer the matter to the ICJ. A strong diplomatic and political push is therefore currently underway from governments, and civil society in a bid to secure the necessary support at the General Assembly for such a resolution. Read more on the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change website
UPDATE December 2022
Sign-On Letter: Support the Climate Change & Human Rights Resolution (ICJ-AO) at the UNGA
The campaign for the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJ-AO) on climate change is now entering a vital stage where the resolution tabled by Vanuatu and supported by champion countries will be voted upon by all nations early next year.
Picture: Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace
The campaign has achieved a key milestone with the legal question now publicly available. It is strong and promising. For CSOs this can be a gamechanger in giving legal weight to the climate crisis as a human rights crisis and will be a powerful tool in our fight to keep fossil fuels in the ground!
Over 2022 organisations have shown their support through this organizational sign on letter which requests Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations to endorse the UNGA Resolution for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice. Please share widely!
More resources
Two-page briefing
Full campaign toolkit