The Republic of Vanuatu: Youth-led climate advocacy

Challenge

Climate change has devastating impacts on child rights, with a growing number of children at risk of more frequent, severe, and destructive climate hazards including water scarcity, heatwaves, vector-borne diseases, flooding, and cyclones. However, even as climate change poses a real threat to child rights, it is rarely considered a child or human rights issue. A recent study by UNICEF East Asia and Pacific presents an example of youth-led activism that challenges this: young people taking legal action to secure their right to a clean environment.

Solution

The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) are a group of law students fighting for an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on the responsibilities of states to future generations with regard to climate change. The campaign was initially organized by law students from the University of the South Pacific. If adopted, the ICJ’s advisory opinion would be a landmark piece of legislation as there is no legal ruling connecting the states’ obligations to human rights with their commitments to climate change. The children and youth of the Republic of Vanuatu (an island in the South Pacific) have further advocated for a United Nations General Assembly vote in favour of the ruling. It is hoped that the ruling will create a legal impetus for states to act on climate change, beyond the Paris Agreement.

It is noteworthy that legal students, as the primary actors behind the campaign, have created an access point for other children and young people not enrolled at university. This shows the potential for young adults to act as a bridge between children and adults so that children can both learn and participate meaningfully. The campaign has also shown how effective civil society youth groups can be in joining together.

Impact 

The movement has already gained support from the World’s Youth for Climate Justice, as well as various other youth climate groups around the world. The Government of Vanuatu has now adopted the campaign for an ICJ advisory opinion and it has the guaranteed support at the United Nations General Assembly of the 18 Pacific Island states. It remains to be seen whether the ruling will be able to trigger the 97 votes in favor that it requires.

For more information on youth-led climate activism, read the comprehensive overview of case studies, ‘Legal Empowerment to Advance Climate and Environmental Justice for Children in East Asia and the Pacific’, published by UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific regional office in 2022.