24 July 2025, Apia - The Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, would like to congratulate the Government of Vanuatu for its leadership and dedication over the past five-years in successfully seeking an Advisory Opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In March 2023, the ICJ was requested to provide an advisory opinion on the following questions: what are the obligations of States under the international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations?; and what are the legal consequences under these obligations for States where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment?
From the home of the ICJ, the Hague, the judicial body delivered its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change on Wednesday 23 July 2025.
The President of the Court, Justice Iwasawa Yuji, stated that climate change poses an “urgent and existential threat, unequivocally caused by human activity”.
The advisory opinion emphasised that causation is due to anthropogenic greenhouse gasses related to human activity and that the adverse impacts of climate change do have cross-border effects that threaten the economies of countries and the livelihoods of communities and individuals.
The opinion underscores the importance of protecting the climate system, the environment, and human rights, highlighting the rights to “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” as well as the obligation of countries and the private sector to collectively act to address climate change.
Mr Nawadra said that “historically Vanuatu has been a global leader in international diplomacy advocating for the conservation and sustainability of our environment, and the climate system.
“This has resulted in the delivery of significant milestones being reached such as the establishment of the Alliance of Small Island States, and the establishment of loss and damage from the impacts of climate change being a fundamental component of global climate discussions. Now the Pacific, alongside the rest of the world is able to share in another milestone from Vanuatu’s endeavour which they began in 2022, that of a successful Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the ICJ”.
Nawadra conveys his “congratulations to the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Honourable Jotham Napat, the Minister of Climate Change, Honourable Ralph Regenvanu, his ministry and the Office of the Attorney General for their dedication as it was Vanuatu who brought together a number of countries and various groups to contribute to the successful effort.
“SPREP worked alongside the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Community (SPC) to contribute to the development of technical submissions from member countries in the region, and we are thankful to play a part in the positive outcome from the ICJ”.
SPREP’s Director of Climate Change Resilience, Ms Tagaloa Cooper reiterated the successful outcome of Vanuatu’s work and expressed “that the authoritative statement provides countries with strong legal guidance that reaffirms the obligations set out under the Convention.”
Said Ms Cooper: “I acknowledge the University of the South Pacific’s School of Law and its student for their foresight and determination in lobbying the government to proceed with this initiative called for by our young people, because the opinion empowers our young generation to take action. It also reaffirms the special needs and circumstances of the Pacific, and the region’s priorities.
“What is also clear in the opinion is that the threshold for the increase in global average temperature is set at 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the Pacific has advocated in support of this threshold for many years now, and I am sure that the outcome has sent waves across the globe.”
It is understood that during the course of this work by the ICJ, 91 written statements and 62 written comments were officially filed in the Registry by countries and international organisations.
In December 2024 there were oral statements made at the World Court by 96 countries and 11 international organisations. It is the highest level of participation in a proceeding in the history of the ICJ and its predecessor, the Permanent Court of International Justice.