Tonga's Attorney Genera,l Hon. Linda Simiki Folaumoetu‘i, at the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands, called for States “to take collective transformational and cooperative action to mitigate climate change for the benefit for both present and future generations,” when she presented oral statements, during an initiative led by the Republic of Vanuatu in December.
“This court's advisory opinion can play an instrumental role in achieving this," she said on 12 December, at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The proceeding aims to clarify the obligations of all states under international law in respect of climate change. The International Court of Justice heard oral statements from Tonga and 97 other states and twelve international organizations, from 2 - 13 December. This initiative was led by the Republic of Vanuatu. The Tonga delegation led by Attorney General included Ms. Madeleine Lavemai (Assistant Crown Counsel), Mr. Siosiua Veikune(campaigner for Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change) and external counsels from DLA Piper, Ms. Gitanjali Bajaj, Mr. Stephen Webb and their legal team.
In presenting Tonga’s oral statement, he Attorney General Hon. Folaumoetu‘i said. "Today, I stand before you once again, seeking a solution under international law, to protect and preserve the Kingdom of Tonga, due to existential threat caused by climate change, and its impacts. We are living in unprecedented times, with increasing global emissions, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels, putting a strain on our country and its resources. Despite Tonga’s negligible contribution to the climate crisis, it is now, the third most vulnerable nation in the world to the effects of climate change. Each year, Tonga grapples with the intensifying consequences of climate change, threatening and impacting our economy, our food security, and our population’s wellbeing."
