Climate change in court: Vanuatu is accusing the world countries!

Climate change in court: Vanuatu is accusing the world countries!

The world looks at the International Court of Justice (IGH) in the Hague, where a groundbreaking case is pending, which could determine the fate of island states like Vanuatu. This legal milestone became possible because Vanuatu, as a direct person affected by climate change, took the initiative to determine failures in climate protection as a violation of international law. As Volksblatt reported, the climate commissioner Ralph Regenvanu demands that states are hired to reduce greenhouse gases and reparation payments. The IGH is currently examining to what extent states are legally bound by climate protection measures and whether they can be held responsible for the damage caused by climate change in poorer countries.

historical hearings

The judges opened one of the most extensive procedures in their history with the hearings. In the coming days, 98 countries and twelve organizations will present their arguments in front of the judges. The United States and China, the largest causes of greenhouse gases, are particularly the focus and have to take a position by December 13th. As ORF , the IGH was commissioned by the UN General Assembly with this legal report, which is already a historical step in climate policy. "You are writing history together," inspires UN General Secretary António Guterres and sees this a chance for future conjectures about climate justice.

This resolution is in context that many small countries have to suffer greatly from the consequences of climate change, although they have hardly contributed to global warming. Vanuatu and similar countries are confronted with dramatic challenges such as increasing sea levels and sudden natural disasters. Vanuatu, where the survival of the population is at stake in the middle of the climate crisis, has already tried to mobilize support at an international level. The population is now hoping for the pioneering decisions of the International Court of Justice.