13 Aug 2019

Students seek international justice over climate crisis

1:16 pm on 13 August 2019

A newly formed group of Pacific young people is pressing the Pacific Islands Forum to take its climate crisis concerns to the International Court of Justice.

The Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change group has received support from over twenty academics including leading professors in international and environmental law from universities such as Cambridge, Yale and Harvard.

Tuvalu Funafuti airport 1500m foreshore beach renourishment.

Tuvalu Funafuti airport 1500m foreshore beach renourishment. Photo: Supplied

It wants Forum leaders to act on its proposal for meaningful efforts to seek climate justice at the highest level globally.

The students want Forum backing for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on countries' obligations under international law to protect both present and future generations against the effects of climate change.

Students from eight Pacific countries studying at the University of the South Pacific got together in March this year and have since been joined by others from around the region.

Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change

Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change Photo: Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change