Deputy Greens Leader and International Aid & Global Justice spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has today written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraging the Australian Government to support Vanuatu’s bid to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the rights of present and future generations to be protected from climate change.
Vanuatu’s initiative will reportedly be considered at the Pacific Islands Forum, which Prime Minister Albanese is attending, next week.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Australia’s support for the initiative would demonstrate that the new government wants to be a climate leader rather than a climate laggard. Critically, it would also prove to our Pacific neighbours that we have listened to them and are genuinely committed to climate justice.
“Those least responsible for the climate crisis, including nations like Vanuatu, face the worst impacts of climate change.
“An advisory opinion from the ICJ could put climate justice and human rights at the forefront of the climate change discussion and drive countries to take stronger climate action.
“Wealthy, colonial countries of the Global North, including Australia, bear overwhelming responsibility for causing and driving the climate crisis. It is imperative that Australia advocates for global climate justice.”