Our Campaign at COP26
The Road to the International Court of Justice: A youth led initiative to take climate justice to the World’s Highest Court
Hosted by the BENELUX-EIB Pavilion
Panelists:
Hon. Aiyaz Saiyed-Khaiyum - Attorney General - Fiji
Mr. Dreli Solomon - Chargé d’Affaires Embassy of Vanuatu in Belgium
Mr. Solomon Yeo - Campaign Director, PISFCC
Ms. Jule Schnakenberg - Core-Group Member WYCJ
The side event provided an understanding on the need to include a rights-based approach to addressing the climate crisis and the need to utilise international legal mechanisms to clarify and develop international law in this area. It looked at why and how an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice is a well justified avenue to advance this development and complement the UNFCCC negotiations and the broader climate goals at the community, national, regional and international level.
Advancing Climate Justice through the ICJ
Hosted by the University of Glasgow. A Law and Governance Day Side event
Speakers:
Ms. Atina Schutz - Awareness Chair - PISFCC
Prof. Jorge Viñuales - University of Cambridge
Amb. Odo Tevi - Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the United Nations)
Prof. Lavanya Rajamani - Professor of International Environmental Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford.
Adv. Monica Feria Tinta - Twenty Essex
Ms. Stacey Alvarez de la Campa - Worldwide Sustainability Warriors
This side event on Law and governance day sought to provide an understanding on the need to include a rights-based approach to addressing the climate crisis and the need to utilise international legal mechanisms to clarify and develop international law in this area.
It brought together leading experts, government officials, and youth representatives to be a part of the diverse multi-stakeholder panel in discussing the ICJAO campaign and how it can serve as a strong legal mechanism to catalyse greater climate action and ambition.
The aims of the event were:
To engage in a high-level conversation on the efficacy and utility of a legal mechanism such as the ICJAO in bolstering climate action globally
Raise the profile of the campaign by building on the momentum of the global youth campaign.
Engage with government officials and diplomats in presenting this campaign as a promising initiative that can have positive benefits and encourage discussions on the next steps that need to be taken in this campaign especially in the context of the recent announcement by the Vanuatu government.
Discuss the heart of the ICJAO campaign, the legal question, and what must it contain in order to secure a successful advisory opinion
The Rising of the Tide: How International law can serve as a vehicle for scaling up ambitious climate action?
Hosted by the Commonwealth Pavilion.
Speakers:
Ms Davila Talemaimaleya - Alliance for Future Generations Fiji
Mr. Kushaal Raj - Acting Manager Climate Change & Ocean Specialist - Fiji
Ms. Maureen Penjueli - Pacific Network on Globalisation
Ms. Aditi Shetye - World’s Youth for Climate Justice
Mr. Jimmy Nuake - Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Solomon Islands
The climate crisis is a reality for all Commonwealth nations and Pacific nations are bearing the full brunt of the crisis that is now threatening the peace, democracy and prosperity of our nations. To ensure the protection and sustainability of these Commonwealth ideals along with our human rights, we need to work towards addressing the climate crisis. An advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice can help clarify international law in this regard and can help accelerate state action.
This event looked at discussing the role of international law with regard to key recent initiatives with a specific focus on the campaign to seek an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ (ICJAO) which is being led by Vanuatu. It explored how work in priority areas such as oceans can benefit from this development and clarification of international law. Specific attention will be given to the youth campaign for an ICJAO.
The aims of the event were:
Consider the role of international law in supporting the work on Oceans and the Blue Charter
Recognise the recent developments in international law relating to the environment and discuss why these are significant in the climate fight.
To engage in a high-level conversation on the efficacy and utility of a legal mechanism such as the ICJAO in bolstering climate action globally
Raise the profile of the campaign by building on the momentum of the global youth campaign.
Encourage the voices and participation of youth.
