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 Legal   Framework

Our Action Plan:

1

GRASSROOTS

To file a legal action in the ICJ, we need the UN General Assembly to pass a resolution, or a UN agency to request an ICJ opinion. After the successful adoption of the resolution by consensus, we are focused on strong submissions to the Court, centering human rights and those on the frontlines.

2

YOUTH-LED DISCUSSIONS  AND WORKSHOPS

Note: You can read Vanuatu's complete and updated General Assembly resolution here.

 

What are the obligations of States

under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations;

 

What are the legal consequences under these obligations for States where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment, with respect to:

 

(i) States, including, in particular, small island developing States, which due to their geographical circumstances and level of development, are injured or specially affected by or are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change?

 

(ii) Peoples and individuals of the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change?

A photograph of the UN seal in the General Assembly Hall with shafts of golden light emanating from above

Questions to
     the ICJ:

Our campaign includes law students from NYC and elsewhere around the world, as well as the United Nations' first-ever Youth Climate Summit and other Climate Week events.

3

UN OUTREACH

We plan to continue to advocate for strong human rights language as the advisory opinion progresses. We invite you to join us!

Blog

Read more about recent developments on the pathway to the ICJ on the World's Youth for Climate Justice blog.

News & Events:

I Am Climate Justice Campaign 

on CNN Philippines

Vanuatu Hosts High-Profile Event on Legal Action for Climate Justice

Advocacy at the UN Youth Climate Summit
 

Learn more about the work of our student activists in the Philippines, who were featured by CNN as future leaders.

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> Learn more from CNN

Under the leadership of Secretary-General Guterres, the UN is increasing ambition for the climate, with Vanuatu leading the way.

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> Vanuatu Daily Post

Read about our student activists who were invited to attend the UN's landmark summit on youth climate solutions.

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> Pacific Climate Resistance

Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change

Attorney Profile

Community Activists

Read about the courageous work of law students seeking climate justice in the Pacific, and what this campaign means to them. 

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> Law students speak out

Antonio Oposa is a creative litigator, and helped pioneer youth climate lawsuits in the Philippines. 

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> Learn more about Antonio Oposa

Learn more about one of our partner organizations, and how we're combining forces to build an international movement.

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> Youth Voices for Climate Action

UN Secretary-General Calls Climate Change His Number One Issue

Corals and Climate Activism

at the UN

Learn About International Climate Agreements 

Read more about the Secretary-General's urgent calls for climate action, and the goals of the United Nations.​

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> 2019 Global Climate Action Summit

Read more about the momentum behind climate action at the UN level, as told by one of our youth activists.

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> UN Association blog

Climate Liability News Features 

Our Campaign

Climate Change Disproportionately Harms Vulnerable People 

Puzzled by the Paris Agreement? InforMEA and other UN websites offer free classes in international law and climate science.

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> SDG  Academy

Legal Scholars Around the World

Endorse Youth Climate Suits

Our campaign is part of a rising tide of climate litigation worldwide - learn more about where we fit in. 

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> Learn more on Climate Liability News

Read about how vulnerable voices were highlighted at last year's Global Climate Action Summit, written by one of our student activists.

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> UN Association blog

While radical in some respects, our legal strategy has been enthusiastically endorsed by legal scholars from numerous countries.

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> Learn more about our legal theory

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