Non-Resident Ambassador of Switzerland to Fiji visits Ministry of Foreign Affairs
07/12/2024
Temporary Closure of Non-essential government services
10/12/2024Published On: 07/12/2024
On Wednesday 4th December, Fiji presented its submission to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion proceedings on the obligation of States with regards to climate change in The Hague, Netherlands.
The Fiji delegation was led by the Attorney General Mr Graham Leung and supported by Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United National Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Luke Daunivalu. Members of the Fiji delegation also included Director Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Keleni Seruvatu, Deputy State Solicitor, Ms. Ofa Solimailagi, Principal Legal Officer at the Office of the Attorney General Ms. Suliana Taukei, and Manager at the Climate Change Division, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ms. Genevieve Jiva.
Fiji’s Submission was joint collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Daunivalu provided an overview of the climate agenda, and Fiji’s active engagement at the multilateral arena, regional collaboration, and national efforts to address the devastating impacts of climate change on small island developing nations.
” This is a crisis of survival. It is also a crisis of equity. Fiji contributes 0.004 per cent of global emissions yet our people bear the brunt of climate impacts with marginalized groups ⎯ women, children and the poor ⎯being disproportionately affected”.
He emphasised that without rapid, deep and sustained reductions in global emissions, the 1.5°C threshold under the Paris Agreement will be exceeded, with catastrophic consequences for the Pacific and the world.
Ambassador Daunivalu urged the Court to reaffirm the principle of accountability, ensuring that those who have, through their acts and omissions, caused the climate crisis, bear responsibility for halting the crisis and addressing its impacts.
Climate-vulnerable countries look up to the Court for clarity, decisiveness and justice by providing its legal guidance, a legacy of accountability, protection and hope.
The Attorney General, Mr. Graham Leung provided the legal arguments and submissions focused on three critical areas (1) the existential threat of climate change; (2) the legal obligations of the States with respect to climate change; and (3) the legal consequences of failing to uphold those obligations.
Fiji urged the Court to declare that the failure to act on climate change is a violation of international law and affirm that States have a duty to prevent harm, protect human rights, and secure a liveable future for all.
The Court will continue to hear submissions from States and International Organisations until 13th December 2024. The ICJ Advisory Opinion proceedings was referred to the Court by the UN General Assembly (UNGA), in 2023, via a UN Resolution tabled to the Assembly by the Republic of Vanuatu, supported by Fiji and other States.
