Climate change is a human rights issue, and Pacific nations "need to be united" to be able to hold accountable the countries most responsible for causing the crisis, Vanuatu's government says.
Rising sea levels and more unsettled weather are among the effects climate change has begun to bring to the Pacific. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
At this week's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit, representatives are expected to endorse a Vanuatu government-led initiative aimed at ratcheting up action on climate change.
Representatives are to consider the issue on Thursday.
If passed, it would issue a call to the UN General Assembly for a resolution that "the International Court of Justice provide an advisory opinion (ICJAO) on the obligations of states under international law to protect the rights of present and future generations against the adverse impacts of climate change."
The PIF meeting would also discuss declaring a climate emergency.
This would recognise that: "Climate change threatens the livelihoods, security and well-being of the Pacific". It follows the recommendations put forward by the meeting of PIF foreign ministers, last week.
Vanuatu's Bakoa Kaltongga Photo: Supplied/ Public Domain/ 'PortVila'
Vanuatu special envoy on climate change Bakoa Kaltongga told RNZ Pacific a lot of work had been done on the ICJAO request by his country, to get the support of the region.
Pacific nations faced "drastic economic effects" due to climate change impacts, Kaltongga said, and the campaign for an advisory opinion on climate change from the world's highest court should be a collective Pacific effort.
"Whether we like it [or not], we have to accept that climate change is affecting us and sooner or later it is going to affect our livelihoods deeper."
Which Pacific nations will back the call?
While Vanuatu's bid had already received backing from Caribbean countries (CARICOM) and also the council of ministers for the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACP) groupings, it was yet to get the formal endorsement of the PIF leaders.
But Federated States of Micronesia president David Panuelo said Vanuatu had "100 percent support" for its leadership on the issue.
"The ICJ advisory opinion can help our political cause or political commitment to share with other countries that climate change is not our cause, .. but [the] obligations of those who are polluting our environment.
"That they need to take action and accelerate the Vanuatu call to action, to make sure that commitments are met," Panuelo said.
Australia had also signalled support for Vanuatu's request for the PIF to get behind a call for the International Court of Justice to consider whether inaction on climate should be considered a breach of human rights.
But there were concerns Australia was attempting to water down Vanuatu's request.
At the summit, Australian minister for the Pacific and international development Pat Conroy said the ICJAO request would help increase momentum for action on climate change. However, he said all the nations would need to work through the specifics.
Australian expert on the Pacific Tess Newton Cain said Conroy's request suggested there was some hesitation about Vanuatu having full ownership of the motion.
Kaltongga said said he was "grateful" and encouraged by support that had been shown by more than 1000 non-government organisations, lobby groups and many young people of the region.
"A lot of young people are supporting this and promoting this simply because they are concerned about the future welfare and protection of their communities."