Six months ago, the International Court of Justice delivered a landmark advisory opinion clarifying what international law requires of states when it comes to climate change. For the first time, the world’s highest court set out the legal responsibilities countries hold to prevent climate harm, protect vulnerable communities, and cooperate to address a global crisis.

On the 6th of February, the government of Vanuatu introduced a draft resolution seeking to endorse the historic ICJ Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change, handed down in July, 2025. 

On 2nd December 2025, PISFCC received the prestigious Right Livelihood Award alongside Julian Aguon of Blue Ocean Law for the landmark campaign to get an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on climate change.

Several Parties are feeling nervous this week. Turns out, clarifying your legal obligations is uncomfortable when you’ve been ignoring them. ECO heard parties insist that the UNFCCC is a space for collaboration, not litigation. ECO agrees.

Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice – the world’s highest court – delivered its unanimous decision: keeping warming below 1.5°C is not just a target, but the baseline that must be hard-wired across all negotiation streams.

Pacific youth are calling on governments worldwide to vote in favour of the upcoming UN resolution that calls on states to uphold  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on climate change. This resolution represents the final, decisive step in our campaign for climate justice, turning the ICJ’s legal guidance into enforceable political action.

Australia’s plan to extend the Woodside North West Shelf (NWS) project until 2070, doubles down on a disaster that is already in motion. This facility is one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas operations and has already poured billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, fuelling climate breakdown. Extending it will lock in even more emissions, even faster, at a moment when the world cannot afford any delays to limit warming to 1.5°C.

THE HAGUE, 23 JULY, 2025.– The International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its long-awaited advisory opinion regarding the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, making clear that States and major polluters have a duty to protect people and take effective action to safeguard the climate system. 

The Pacific Ocean stretches endlessly beneath tropical skies, yet for the members of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), the horizon carries more than salt spray and sunset - it holds the weight of six years of organising, testimony, and an unwavering fight for lands and seas. As the International Court of Justice prepares to deliver its Advisory Opinion on climate change, anticipation ripples across our island communities.

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed a landmark case brought by First Nations leaders from the Torres Strait Islands, ruling that the Australian Government does not owe a legal duty of care to protect their communities from the escalating impacts of climate change.

The International Court of Justice has announced the delivery date of its historic first advisory opinion on the obligations of States in relation to climate change. 

This landmark ruling will be read in a public sitting on Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 3 PM CEST (1 AM) FJT, Thursday 24 July) at the Peace Palace in The Hague, by Judge Iwasawa Yuji, President of the Court.

In a historic moment for climate justice, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued Advisory Opinion OC‑32/25 on 3 July 2025, declaring that the accelerating rise in global temperatures driven by human activity constitutes a climate emergency.

Bonn, Germany:  20 June 2025 - At the midway point of the June climate meetings in Bonn, the unresolved finance failures of COP29 in Baku still hang heavy over negotiations. But amid stalled talks, a powerful narrative emerged at a press conference hosted by Oxfam International and Greenpeace International: the public is ready to make polluters pay.

Nice, France: 11 June 2025 - In a powerful intervention at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) stood alongside the Government of Vanuatu and key regional voices to deliver a simple, uncompromising message: climate inaction is a legal failure, and the ocean cannot wait.

Briefing note for Third UN Oceans Conference in Nice, France.

In December 2024, the world’s highest court became the stage for what may be the “biggest case in human history.”   Over two weeks,  96 States from every region of the world as well as 11 International Organizations gathered at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to present arguments in its climate advisory opinion (AO) proceedings, on two defining questions

Today 13 December 2024, marked a major milestone in the global climate justice movement as Vishal Prasad, Director of Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), delivered a compelling statement to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the ongoing #ClimateICJAO oral hearings.

Over 50 people, including youth, indigenous and experts across various fields gathered in an empowering initiative, the People’s Assembly, to share how their lives have been impacted by climate change and to contribute to an outcome document presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) via oral statements on the 13th of December, 2024. 

The most important climate case that a lot of people haven’t heard about is playing out this week and next at the International Court of Justice. The court, based in The Hague, adjudicates disputes between nations and issues advisory opinions on big international legal issues.

The Hague - Today, 3 December 2024, marks a historic day in the fight for climate justice as our president delivered a powerful statement to the judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the opening of oral hearings.