(3 Minutes Read)
These nations, mostly poor countries face rising sea levels and more intense storms. They are calling for the world’s biggest polluters to be held accountable for their role in the climate crisis.
The United Nations’ top court in The Hague has started hearing the case of a group of small island nations, that are fighting for their very survival in the face of climate change. The case evokes a lot of sympathy from the world community.
These nations, mostly poor countries face rising sea levels and more intense storms. They are calling for the world’s biggest polluters to be held accountable for their role in the climate crisis.
Fifteen judges from around the world will seek to answer two questions: What are countries obliged to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions; and the legal consequences for governments where their acts, or lack of action, have significantly harmed the climate and environment. Some of them are from Africa.
Over the next two weeks, the court will hear from 99 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations. It’s the largest lineup in the institution’s nearly 80-year history. The world community is eagerly awaiting the results of the much-awaited case.
From rising sea levels and temperatures to more frequent extreme weather events like droughts and hurricanes, small islands like these bear the brunt of worsening climate change.
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While there is increasing international attention and funding for developing nations and climate-vulnerable territories activists from places like Curaçao and Mayotte say that their plight is being widely overlooked and underfunded. This is because these territories remain under some form of colonial control or influence, which limits their autonomy and representation when it comes to tackling climate change.
