International law plays a key role in addressing climate change, especially when it comes to holding States accountable.

While officiating at the International Court of Justice Workshop in Nadi, Attorney General Graham Leung says through the ICJ, there’s a chance they can integrate climate change into the broader framework of international legal obligations.

Leung says this will help shape the rules that will guide global climate action for decades to come.

“The ICJ advisory opinion offers a unique opportunity to clarify what international law requires of States to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. For many of us, this is not simply a legal issue—it is a matter of survival. The effects of climate change are already upon us, and we have a duty to ensure that the legal framework governing this crisis is as robust, clear, and enforceable as possible.”

The Attorney General states this is a chance to secure much-needed legal clarity on what international law requires of States in terms of climate action.

Leung stresses that it’s not just about interpreting treaties but also about ensuring that the legal principles underpinning international law are applied in the context of the most pressing challenge facing humanity today – climate change.

He says for countries like Fiji, Vanuatu, and fellow Pacific Island States – this is more than a legal exercise, it is about our survival, our future, and the future of generations to come.