COP28 STATEMENT
28 November, 2023
We, the World’s Youth, are heading to COP28 to rally support for our shared mission to bring the climate crisis to the world’s highest court. We, young people and future generations, are facing dire consequences of climate change on our human rights. That is why we mobilised the United Nations to seek advice from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) through an Advisory Opinion (AO). An AO can strengthen the human rights-based response to the climate crisis and clarify the obligations that States have towards current and future generations.
Following years of campaigning by young people around the world, and under the leadership of Vanuatu, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the historic resolution requesting an ICJ AO on climate justice on 29th March 2023, with the support of over 130 countries.
Advisory opinions provide crucial clarification of the law. An ambitious AO on human rights in the context of climate change from the ICJ will provide clear guidelines on due diligence and accountability, increasing pressure on States to act.
As fierce climate justice advocates, we look forward to engaging with State and non-State actors in the pursuit of ambitious action and intergenerational solidarity at COP28. At COP28, we hope to see international collaboration among States, and strengthened State interest to engage with this historic case at the ICJ, centering the voices of youth and most affected communities. Further, we strongly encourage the delegates to prioritise the human rights of current and future generations in their COP28 negotiations.
22 January 2024 marks the deadline for States and admitted intergovernmental organisations to make written statements before the Court. We are encouraging all States, especially climate vulnerable States to make written statements to the ICJ. We also urge them to include the voices of those most affected, especially youth, in these proceedings. The Youth Climate Justice Handbook, written from the youth’s perspective, facilitates this process. We further encourage States to annex the Legal Memorandum from the Handbook as part of their written statements. In the interest of intergenerational justice, we also strongly encourage States to include youth voices in their written statements.
While we strive to fight for climate justice through international law, we also stand for the protection of human rights of those that are victims of inter-state and intra-state conflict and are being subjected to inhumane atrocities.
Quotes from WYCJ front convenors/stubborn activists
Ashawnté Russell - As we head into the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties, as we strive for inclusivity and accountability across all regions, states and sectors, it is imperative that we recognise the avenues by which climate justice must be connected to all aspects of resilience. The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion not just provides a necessary perspective on how we can better orient policy and practicality, but it gives us a chance to offer our concerns and needs to the proceedings dialogues. My hope coming out of COP28 is for this shared perspective to take its needed priority to ensure the most vulnerable among us are accounted for, and those that have the capacity, are held accountable where applicable.
Mariana Campos - COP28 is the last opportunity of this year to rethink the path to the 1.5ºC goal of the Paris Agreement. Experts and scientists have been clear, if the climate targets are not strengthened and accelerated, not even the 2ºC goal will be achieved. This COP has the singularity of taking place in the middle of an ICJ Advisory Opinion proceeding, that would finally link the climate crisis and human rights obligations, so we invite the States to know the importance of participating in this process, to change the path and make it more ambitious.
Samira Ben Ali - The 28th Conference of Parties marks a crucial moment for the international climate sphere. Not only is it the reviewing year for the Global Stocktake and features ongoing negotiations on the Loss and Damage Fund, but we are also just a few weeks away from the deadline for written submissions to the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on climate. This COP carries the hopes of numerous vulnerable countries and the most affected groups, including young people, making it an unmissable opportunity to accelerate climate action and promote intergenerational equity.
Khulekani Magwaza - COP28 must provide real outcomes that advance processes that will protect vulnerable people, especially in the global south, because of special circumstances, which basically means that the global south is disproportionately affected by climate change. More importantly, 2023 is the year of global stocktake. This process must determine new and strong methodologies and targets to combat climate change in the next term of NDCs. Otherwise, our hopes for a better future will continue to shrink.
Contact information
General: hi@wy4cj.org
Press: press@wy4cj.org
Meet us at the COP venues:
Jule Schnakenberg: jule@wy4cj.org +31 6 47706167
Mert Kumru: mert@wy4cj.org +31 6 26943742
Website: wy4cj.org
Social media handles to stay informed:
@wy4cj (Instagram, X/Twitter), World’s Youth for Climate Justice (Facebook, LinkedIn)
Social media hashtags: #ICJAO4Climate #AOLetsGO #FutureVoicesInTheAO
