More than 220 CSOs Request Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations to Endorse the UNGA Resolution For an Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the International Court of Justice
Background: On 29 November 2022, Champions Nations calling for an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change sent their draft Resolution to all UN member states to kickstart the inclusive consultation process, culminating in a final draft Resolution which has been to date been co-sponsored by 119 nations (as of March 23, 2023). The final step will be the tabling and adoption of the Resolution during the 77th session of the UNGA on March 29th.
The International Court of Justice is the only UN Principal organ which has not yet been given an opportunity to address and contribute constructive solutions towards the climate emergency.
The legal clarity contained within the Advisory Opinion will help states improve their Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, as well as strengthen domestic policies and legislations with human rights protections. It will offer clarity on state action under international treaties and general international law. This is a really important process to ensure that we consider the Paris Agreement in a more holistic manner across treaties and enshrined in the rule of law. It will also further the understanding of climate change as a human rights crisis. As such this will be an important tool as we continue to seek climate justice for current and future generations.
Please refer to the draft resolution here: https://www.vanuatuicj.com/resolution
Translations of this Letter can be found below:
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To the Attention of Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations negotiating on behalf of their governments and constituted groups,
Amidst the urgency to address climate change, bold and purposeful action remains wanting. COP27 did not deliver the progression we need to give us a chance to stay with 1.5C. In a future where we succeed in limiting warming to 1.5C, whole reef systems will die off, storms, heat waves and droughts will be more extreme, coastlines will disappear and millions will be displaced. For every tenth of a degree of warming, the impacts will get worse, but for every tenth prevented the extent of future damage will be limited.
In this critical decade, humanity has a last chance to change a long course of massive and unbridled environmental degradation, highlighted by the challenge of climate change. Future generations will look back at what present generations did or failed to do to rise to this challenge.
The Government of Vanuatu, with champion countries, are rising to this challenge by seeking a constructive route through which to enhance ambition in line with the Paris Agreement. They will do so by tabling a resolution to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice during the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly.
An Advisory Opinion on climate change sought from the International Court of Justice is the most authoritative avenue available for independent clarification of the legal implications of climate change under international law. By supporting the resolution by co-sponsoring, or in the event it goes to vote, voting ‘Yes’ would reinforce your country’s dedication to climate ambition, intergenerational equity, and a climate-safe future for all.
The draft Resolution (which can be read here: https://www.vanuatuicj.com/resolution) does not single out any one State or government but ensures that all States’ obligations are considered. It does not seek reinterpretation of the Paris Agreement but brings consistency and coherence to a range of international laws and principles to address one of the world’s most complex problems.
Endorsing this resolution as it is tabled would send a clear signal to present and future generations that their governments did not leave any stone unturned to address the climate crisis. We implore you to be a champion for climate justice and for our collective future by voting yes on the UNGA resolution for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change.
Civil Society is watching. There is no climate justice without human rights. Vote yes for ambition and for climate justice.
Sincerely,
International Organisations
- 350.org
- ActionAid International
- Amnesty International
- Care About Climate
- CARE International
- CBM Global Disability Inclusion
- Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)
- Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
- Child Rights International Network (CRIN)
- Climate Action Network International
- Environmental Justice Foundation
- Franciscans International
- Fridays for Future MAPA
- Fridays for Future International
- Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Global Witness
- Greenpeace
- Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
- International Network for Sustainable Energy (INFORSE)
- Islamic Relief Worldwide
- Not1More
- Oxfam International
- Parents For Future Global
- Peace Boat
- Soka Gakkai International (SGI)
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
- World’s Youth for Climate Justice
- WWF International
- Youth for Ecocide Law
National and Regional Organizations
- 350 Otautahi/Christchurch
- 350 Pacific
- AbibiNsroma Foundation ANF
- Acção Florestal
- Action for Nature
- Action Jeunesse pour le Développement
- Africa Climate and Health Alliance
- African Coalition on Green Growth
- Africans Rising
- Ahetaha Water Conservation Association
- ALECIF
- ALECIF Chile
- Alpha Action for Social and Economic Development-AASED
- American Friends Service Committee
- American Football For African Mission
- Arab Peace League Organization, Branch Manager MOROCCO
- ARAYARA.org
- Asamblea Comunitaria
- ASEDE
- Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)
- Asociación La Ruta del Clima
- Auroramållet
- Australian Health Promotion Association
- Australian Parents for Climate Action
- Barranquilla+20
- Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC)
- CAN Latin America
- CAN South Asia
- CAN Tunisia
- Caribbean Youth Climate Council
- Catholic Agency for Overseas Development
- CBM Ireland
- CBM UK (Global Disability Inclusion)
- Center for Participatory Research and Development-CPRD
- Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC)
- Centre for Law, Justice & Policy (Denning Law School)
- Centro de Desarrollo Humano.CDH
- Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental A.C.
- Christian Aid
- Christian Aid Ireland
- Church of the Larger Fellowship (Unitarian Universalist)
- Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada
- Climate Action Network Arab World
- Climate Action Network Australia
- Climate Action Network Japan
- Climate Action Network Southeast Asia
- Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK)
- Climate Action Network Zimbabwe
- Climate Action Nurses
- Climate and Health Alliance
- Climate Emergency Australia
- Climate Justice Programme
- Climate Justice Taranaki
- Climate Refugees
- CNCD-11.11.11
- Coordination Office of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference for International Development and Mission (KOO)
- Coalizão Negra Por Direitos
- COESUS – Coalizão Não Fracking Brasil
- Comité Ambiental Comunal de la comuna de Paine
- Comite de dd.hh. y ecologicos de Quilpue.
- CONECIFM Chile
- Conscious Consultants Worldwide
- Consejo de Jóvenes de Oaxaca – México
- Derecho Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
- Dibeen For Environmental Development
- Diplomats for Climate Action Now
- Dunia Salama Foundation
- EcoEquity
- Ecologistas en Acción
- Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education
- Emmaus International
- Environmental and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand
- Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
- Environmental Protection Society Malaysia
- European Environmental Bureau
- Faith for the Climate
- Fast For the Climate
- FECOFUN
- Finnish Climate Grandparents
- Finnish development NGOs
- Fridays for Future Digital
- Fridays for Future Ecuador
- Fridays for Future Indonesia
- Fridays for Future Sierra Leone
- Fridays for Future Sweden
- Fridays for Future Zambia
- Fridays for Future NYC
- Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica
- Fundación ARAYARA
- GenderCC SA – Women for climate justice
- Global Climate Activists
- Global Focus
- Global Pact Coalition
- Grandmothers Advocacy Network
- Grata Fund
- Green Alternative
- Habitat Sivar
- Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia
- Human Rights Watch
- Iceland Nature Conservation Association
- ILAJUC – Latin American Institute for Collective Justice
- Italian Climate Action Network
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation-Australia
- Indigenous Strategy and institution for development
- INSEDA (Integrated Sustainable Energy and Ecological Development Association)
- Instituto de Referência Negra Peregum
- Instituto Internacional Arayara
- Instituto Marielle Franco
- International Climate Change Development Initiative
- International helping for young
- Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
- Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement
- Jubilee Australia Research Centre
- Jve Cote D’ivoire
- Klimadelegation E.V.
- Kmun
- Legambiente
- Lets Green The Future
- LITIGA.org
- Mai-Maasina Green Belt
- Main Line Unitarian Church
- Mapala Pawana Fmipa Universitas Tadulako (Pawana Nature Lovers Students
- Faculty Of Mathematics And Natural Sciences Tadulako University)
- Miljöjuristerna
- Mom Loves Taiwan Association
- Movimiento social y asociacion VIH renacer de neiva
- Mujeres Modatima
- Natural Justice
- Nature Palace Foundation
- Net Balance Foundation
- Northern Beaches Climate Action Network
- Observatório do Clima
- observatorio iberoamericano de Discapaidad.AR
- OCM Observatório do Carvão Mineral
- OPG Observatório do Petróleo e Gás
- Ozeanien-Dialog
- Pacific Islands Climate Action Network
- Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change
- Peoples Climate Assembly
- Peoples Federation for National Peace and Development (PEFENAP)
- Permafrost Pathways at Woodwell Climate Research Center
- Pivot Point
- Plan International Australia
- Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático
- Plataforma CIPÓ
- Polluters Out
- Project Dryad
- Promotion of Sustainable Development in Donga Mantung Association (PROSDOMA)
- Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc
- Reacción Climática
- Rebelión o Extinción Bolivia
- REDE GTA
- Rehoboth initiative for Africa
- Right Livelihood College Bangkok
- Rise Up WV
- Rodzice dla Klimatu – Parents For Future Poland
- Roreaita Biodiversity Rainforest Conservation Association
- Ruma
- Sauti Ya Wanawake
- Save & Plant Trees!
- Save the Children Vanuatu
- Saving Tuvalu
- SAYCC
- SCIAF (Caritas Scotland)
- SDS-Shariatpur Development Society
- Smart Youth Network Initiative
- SMRC
- Solomon Islands Climate Action Network
- Southern Africa Climate Change Coalition
- SSF | Sustentabilidad Sin Fronteras
- Stamp Out Poverty
- Sustainable Development Council
- Sustainable Ocean Alliance (Hub Ecuador)
- Talanoa
- Tearfund
- Terra de Direitos
- Texas Impact
- The ChariTree Foundation
- The Climate Reality Project – Australia and Pacific
- The University of the South Pacific
- Tomorrow Green DRCongo
- Tunza Eco-Generation
- Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development
- Uma Gota No Oceano
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- UNISC International
- UPM
- Vanuatu Climate Action Network
- Viernes Por El Futuro Colombia
- Vostile Creatives Trust
- Vote Earth Now
- Vuku Zenzele Development Forum
- WECF International
- Wo-Mi Women Migrants
- Women In Communities Zimbabwe
- World Friends for Africa Burkina Faso
- World’s Youth for Climate Justice
- Young Friends of the Earth Norway
- Youth and Environment Europe (YEE)
- Youth for Environmental Law Indonesia (Youthfel Indonesia)
- Youth Meeting
- Youth Network for the Sustainable Development Goals
- Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria)
- Zimbabwe Climate Change Coalition