Our Journey
Origins
In 2019, a group of 27 students from the University of the South Pacific came together to begin a campaign to persuade the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to take the issue of climate change and human rights to the International Court of Justice. The early days of the organisation saw collaborations with grassroots communities and their initiatives and outreach about this new and unique campaign.
Endorse the AO
The initial phase of campaigning was for PISFCC to garner support from as much States as possible. The obvious initial target audience was the Pacific States. The outreach was carried out by our members that had grown from the initial 27 members to 100+ members located all across the Pacific, all pushing for their States to formally endorse the campaign and support the initiative.
Pacific Islands Forum
Endorsement
In August 2022, the Pacific Island Forum convened for its 51st Leader’s Meeting. Vanuatu tabled on the agenda for Pacific Leaders to formally endorse the request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States with regards to climate change and human rights. The result of this agenda was a unanimous endorsement of all PIF member countries as reflected in the 51st communique.
New York Campaign
Following the endorsement of the region, the campaign moved to New York, where the youth movement began mobilising to garner the support of missions, civil society, academics in the leadup to the vote at the UNGA. A core group of countries was brought together by the Vanuatu government to lead the negotiations on the draft UNGA resolution and after 3 rounds of informal informals, our biggest milestone yet was achieved
On the 29th of March 2023, the UNGA unanimously adopted Resolution 77/276 calling on the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on the obligations of states relating to climate change. This was a historic achievement for us because this was the first advisory opinion request that went through the UNGA by consensus.
UNGA Unanimous Adoption
State
Submissions
Written Submissions
On 22 March 2024, the International Court of Justice received the highest number of written statements to have been filed by States and authorised international organisations, in an advisory proceedings on any matter.
Written Comments Submissions
Deadline - 23 April 2024.
Oral Submissions
To be determined.