Legal

Submission for the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently considering a request for advisory opinion on the obligations of States when it comes to climate change, a historic case that is the result of a long campaign by youth activists in Vanuatu, who convinced the Government of Vanuatu to lead a resolution at the UN General Assembly. Adopted in March 2023, the resolution formally asked the ICJ to provide clarity on the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate and environment, as well as what consequences arise when States fail - whether by act or omission - to do so.

After multiple rounds of written submissions from States and other entities, the Court will commence oral proceedings in late 2024, with the advisory opinion expected in early 2025.

In order to bring attention to the importance of the Court considering climate displacement as part of the proceedings, Climate Refugees submitted - along with several civil society and academic experts - a brief on key issues, which we hope will be useful to Parties as they consider their own positions.

Read the brief we jointly submitted in its entirety below.

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Submission to the Canadian Senate's Study on Forced Displacement and Climate Change

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In November 2023, Climate Refugees Founder and Executive Director Amali Tower was invited to appear before the Canadian Senate’s Human Rights Committee as part of its study on Forced Global Displacement, to testify about the impacts of climate change on migration and forced displacement, particularly as it relates to adverse impacts on human rights.

Tower was invited to testify on a panel with other expert witnesses, and to provide a brief opening statement, followed by questions from committee members.

Climate Refugees was also invited to submit written testimony to the Senate of Canada. Together with other Senate Committee witnesses Dr. Camila Bustos, Assistant Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and Monica Iyer, Clinical Fellow and Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke University School of Law, as well as key colleagues working in this field, we have submitted a written brief to the Senate Committee for further consideration.

You can access the brief below.