By Cynthia Houniuhi, President, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change

It has been nine months since the UN unanimously voted to support what could be a new ‘North Star’ for climate action, a much-needed beacon of hope in this critical decade. It was inspiring to witness the global community unite, with 130 countries standing alongside Vanuatu, to refer the climate crisis to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). As a Solomon Islander woman at the forefront of the climate crisis, it was an exciting and sleepless night, knowing we had initiated a process that might alter the course of our struggle against the climate emergency.

Soon, for the first time, the world’s highest court will rule on the legal consequences for nations that are harming the climate through their actions and crucially, through their inactions. In a world where international law and global cooperation are increasingly under pressure, this vote was a much needed and refreshing step forward.

The Court will issue an advisory opinion – a legal statement that clarifies and reinforces countries’ existing obligations under international law. This new compass will serve to guide climate action, uniting various branches of international law, including human rights, environmental protection, and climate change.

While that single vote passed in a matter of minutes, it was the culmination of years of work by civil society to build a movement. From the initial idea conceived in a classroom in Vanuatu, we have been driven by a sense of urgency as we see the climate crisis unfold before our eyes – extreme weather and cyclones, sea inundation of our agricultural land, and cultural sites washed away by king tides. 

Youth from around the world have joined together to get us to this point, working both inside and outside the diplomatic tent. 

We’ve worked closely with governments, influencing the diplomatic channels necessary to secure the victory at the UN, drawing on both our legal expertise and our lived experience of the climate crisis. 

But we’ve also been active at the grassroots level making sure we are building a global community for climate justice. We have sailed boats down the Hudson River, past the UN building, and organized community events throughout the Pacific. Our efforts have aimed to bring people along with us, ensuring those most affected by the climate crisis remain connected to the campaign.

Soon, the Court will begin hearings, gathering evidence from nations on what should be included in the ruling. We must secure an ambitious advisory opinion that meets our expectations and is capable of supercharging the global transition to clean energy and climate justice.

We are confident that the Court will be convinced by the evidence from small island States and other climate vulnerable countries to demonstrate the need for an advisory opinion that shakes up international law and allows consequences for countries that refuse to change their ways. But we are not naive to the fact that – despite the unanimous vote, there are countries and groups that will attempt to undermine or limit the decision.

As civil society, we must urge our governments to make bold, ambitious arguments and hold them accountable when they fall short. Crucially, lived experiences must be central to the evidence the Court considers.

We have come so far, but our job is not done. Our campaign is a true testament to the value of people power and climate justice.

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This Guest Article is part of a project that seeks to raise awareness and build momentum and knowledge around the ICJ advisory opinion on obligations of States in respect of climate change and to promote a better understanding of the implications of the advisory opinion among sustainable development decision makers.