SOLOMON Islands this week participated in the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJAO), oral hearings in the Hague, Netherlands.
The United Nations Resolution 77/276 that was passed unanimously by the General Assembly, on the 29th of March 2023, requested the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.
There were various stages in the ICJAO proceedings which included the submission of written statements and written comments.
Solomon Islands participated in both stages of the proceedings and made oral submissions on the 5th of December 2024, before the International Court of Justice.
Solomon Islands’ delegation was led by the Attorney-General, John Muria Jnr, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, led by Solomon Islands Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union, His Excellency Moses Mose.
Also supporting the Attorney-General’s Chambers, pro bono, all throughout the ICJAO proceedings was global law firm, DLA Piper – Australia and Counsel Harjaveen Narulla of Dougherty Street Law Chambers.
The Attorney General of Solomon Islands presented the first part of Solomon Islands’ oral submission before the ICJ.
He spoke on the vulnerabilities of Solomon Islands being a small island developing State and the impacts of climate change in Solomon Islands. The second part of Solomon Islands’ submission was presented by Counsel Harjaveen Narulla. He spoke on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) of States, the notion of climate change treaties not being the only source of international law for climate change (lexis specialis) and climate mobility.
Vanuatu opened the ICJAO oral proceedings in a joint submission with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Amongst the speakers that have presented is the President of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), a Solomon Islander, Ms. Cynthia Houniuhi, who spoke as a Melanesian youth representative on youth and future generation concerns. Pacific countries Fiji, Cook Islands and Marshall Islands have also made their submissions before the ICJ.
As the oral proceedings end on the 13th of December, Solomon Islands and the rest of the participating States will await the ruling of the ICJ which is anticipated to be delivered in mid-2025.
