The HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (24 July 2025): The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat has welcomed the historic ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that countries have legal obligations to protect the climate, saying it is a climate justice victory for Melanesia, the Pacific and planet Earth.
Acting Director General, Ilan Kiloe, speaking to world media right after the delivery of the Advisory Opinion, said the wisdom of MSG Leaders in tasking the MSG Secretariat to participate in the ICJAO proceedings was not made in vain, "yet yielded positive results that continue to make MSG a relevant and influential player in regional and global affairs".
He said it is also a huge win for the power of our youth to make an impact, referring to the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC)’s initial move that initially led to Vanuatu’s ICJ initiative.
The ICJ has ruled that climate change treaties and customary international law have binding obligations for States to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from greenhouse gases. These treaties include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Paris Agreement, among others.
States also have an obligation under customary international law to prevent significant harm to the environment by acting with due diligence.
Under international human rights law, states have an obligation to ensure “the effective enjoyment of human rights by taking necessary measures to protect the climate system”.
The ICJ has further ruled that a breach of any obligations by a State, constitutes an internationally wrongful act entailing the responsibility of that State.
ADG Kiloe said, “I am so proud of the 27 USP students from Emalus whose brilliant idea has not only reached the corridors of the world’s highest court, but has now become a fully-fledged ICJ Advisory Opinion, a significant push and providing more ammunition in our fight to be heard at international climate change talks”.
The ruling he added, is not an end but the beginning of a journey to ensure that our future generations are protected and sustained from the devastation of the impacts of climate change.
“It certainly has been a long and tardious journey, history has been made yet again, and this ruling has given us hope for the future as we continue to grapple with the realities of sea-level rise, earthquakes and frequency of cyclones on the home front,” ADG Kiloe said.
The MSG will continue to engage in the process as mandated by Leaders in the recent MSG Summit in Suva in supporting Vanuatu and MSG Member states in the next phases of the process including at the UN & COP negotiations.
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