Climate change in court: Vanuatu fights for his existence!

Climate change in court: Vanuatu fights for his existence!

Vanuatu, Südsee - The International Court of Justice (IGH) has targeted the climate crisis and its effects on particularly endangered countries, whereby the island state of Vanuatu focuses on. For a long time, the UN General Assembly gave the IGH the order last year to create a legal opinion to oblige states to take effective climate protection measures. This Initiative could be a historical turning point. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced after the resolution said that history was written here. Vanuatu and other southern Pacific nations hope that their complaints against climate-friendly measures are supported geologically and legally, as

climate change as an acute threat

The world weather organization (WMO) has published alarming data that show that the sea level in western Pacific has risen by up to 15 centimeters since 1993, which is almost twice as much as the worldwide average. These dramatic changes lead to stronger hurricanes that massively threaten the region. Vanuatu, whose economy depends heavily on fishing and agriculture, can lose up to 50 percent of its gross domestic product in every heavy storm. Foreign Minister Vanuatus, Ralph Regenvanu, described the desperate location of the island states, which are repeatedly hit by superstorms, the effects of which are intensified with climate change, according to the reporting of dgvn.de .

In addition to the environmental problems, numerous civil society groups require a comprehensive legal opinion on climate change. This has the potential to influence the discussion about climate justice and the responsibility of the federal states. Especially young people who suffer from the consequences of climate change are involved in this process. Vanuatu launched this process in 2022 at the UN General Assembly. If the application is accepted, this could not only promote international discussion, but also the implementation of effective climate protection measures at a global level.