Sea levels are rising due to the climate change as arctic and antarctic ice is melting faster and faster. This threatens the existence of many pacific island states.
Several of these pacific island states have brought a law suit to the International Court of Justice demanding more and decisive climate action worldwide. This historic case is now being tried at the International Court of Justice and the hearings have started. This action is of unsurpassed importance for climate protection. The special envoy for Vanuatu, Ralph Regenvanu rightly said in his statement to the court on December 2nd: “I choose my words carefully when I say that this may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity. Let us not allow future generations to look back and wonder why the cause of their doom was condoned.” Vanuatu is one of the Pacific island states threatened by rising sea levels.
A lot of countries have delivered and are still delivering statements, among them the US pointing to the Paris Agreement as their excuse of doing enough. This is more than ironic since the US do not live up to their self-agreed objectives and Donald Trump is threatening to leave the Paris Agreement.
Unfortunately, sending messages to the International Court of Justice is not appropriate but we should follow this case closely. Furthermore we should remind all countries that have signed the Paris Agreement to fulfill its stipulations.