<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/international-law-is-now-on-our-side-australia-must-follow-pacifics-lead-on-climate-action/>
"This week the International Court of Justice delivered a strong advisory
opinion that States have a clear legal obligation to cut emissions, prevent
harm to the climate system and in some cases, pay for historical damages caused
by their emissions.
What does this mean for those of us on the frontlines of climate impacts?
This means that international law is now on our side. It can now evaluate
States’ climate obligations not just in terms of emissions, but in terms of how
the climate crisis has impacted our basic human rights and losses. While not
binding, these advisory opinions shape international norms and inform legal
action.
What began as a group of 27 Pacific Island law students is now a turning point
that strengthens a struggling multilateral system for climate action. The
Vanuatu government was also a driving force behind this first ever legal
opinion on climate change.
With these proceedings, we are seeing a familiar storyline play out in the
international arena, one that the Pacific is all too familiar with – that if we
want to survive the climate crisis, it is up to us to chart the path of least
destruction. Whether or not the world follows our lead has differed over
history.
Ten years ago, those of us present in Paris cried tears of resolve and pride
when Republic of the Marshall Islands Foreign Minister, Tony De Brum,
masterfully led the High Ambition Coalition to negotiate and secure what we now
know as the Paris Agreement.
The world then followed suit with their national emissions targets, some worthy
of the phrase “climate action”, and some not.
In 2022, Tuvalu became the first country to call for a Fossil Fuel Non
Proliferation Treaty, with 135 cities and subnational governments today backing
that same call. Over the years, Pacific Island states have attempted to set
high bars for climate ambition and prayed that those with the power to impact
global emissions saw our survival as worth fighting for.
Today, this call-and-response is again at play for the Pacific. When we became
aware of Australia’s intentions to host COP31 as an Australia-Pacific COP, we
saw the opportunity to chart a path encouraging Australia’s climate leadership.
But it has been no easy feat. When the Australian government signalled its
addiction to gas expansion in Canberra last May, a group of Pacific Islanders
took to parliament lawns calling for a renewable energy transition instead –
both domestically and within the Pacific region."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
