Ardern, Albo team up to support International Court climate case
Australia and New Zealand are set to back a Pacific bid for an International Court of Justice ruling on climate change.
As Pacific leaders gather in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) this week, Vanuatu is spearheading a campaign to seek an advisory opinion from the court.
The Melanesian state wants the ICJ to consider whether international law requires countries to meet their emissions-reduction targets to protect the human rights of future generations.
The matter is bound for a vote of the United Nations General Assembly later this year, requiring a majority to pass.
Climate campaigners believe such an opinion would strengthen demands on wealthy and high-emitting nations to cut their greenhouse gas use and reduce future warming.
Speaking on the eve of the leadersā summit, Jacinda Ardern signed New Zealand up.
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āWeāre supportive of those moves,ā Ardern said.
āWe havenāt got to the stage yet of whether thereās any particular wording or framing for that, of course weād want to make sure that weāre able to sight that, but as a general principle weāre supportive.
āThis would be one of a number of measures that ā¦ those who are most climate-affected are seeking to take to ensure that those who have the greatest power and the largest impact on climate emissions reduction, (to) make sure that they are doing their bit.ā
Australia ā which has lifted its emissions targets under Anthony Albaneseās government ā has joined the chorus of support.
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Pacific Minister Pat Conroy suggested Australia would also vote in favour.
āWe are supportive of the process,ā Conroy said. āAnd we applaud Vanuatu taking it to the UN General Assembly.
āThis is a really important resolution that will help increase momentum for action on climate change.ā
While other issues are swirling ā not least regional unity in the wake of Kiribatiās withdrawal from the forum ā climate change remains at the forefront of the PIF agenda.
Global warming is an existential threat to several low-lying Pacific countries, and, if unchecked, will cause major ecological and economic damage to the developing region.
Officials in Suva say Albaneseās election on a climate platform was promising.
āTheyāre saying the right things,ā one told AAP, āand now ā¦ everyone is waiting to see whether thereās follow-through.ā
Speaking at an event in Sydney prior to his departure for Fiji, Albanese said he wanted Australia to ābe a trusted global partner on climate actionā.
Australia is also gunning to host a first UN climate summit on behalf of the Pacific, āto elevate and prioritise issues which impact our region the mostā.
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