Episode 28 - The Fight for Climate Justice: Pacific Island Students' Campaign for an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion

The Coming to the Mat podcast series is a three-part collection of episodes that follows the journey of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change. The series aims to highlight the inspiring stories of young people who are taking action to combat the devastating effects of climate change on their island communities.

The series explores how these students, who come from 8 different Pacific Island countries, have banded together to fight for their future. Through personal interviews, the podcast delves into the individual experiences of the students and the unique ways in which they, collectively, are fighting climate change.

One of the key focus areas of the series is the role of Vanuatu, a Pacific Island nation, in leading a core group of nations to draft a question to ask the International Court of Justice. This question seeks to clarify what the obligations of states are in protecting the rights of current and future generations from the adverse effects of climate change.

The Pacific Islands are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their small landmass and low elevation, which make them more susceptible to rising sea levels, stronger storms, and other climate-related disasters. These students have witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change on their homes and communities and have taken it upon themselves to make a difference.

The podcast explores how these students have used their voices and platforms to advocate for climate action, raise awareness, and implement tangible solutions. It showcases their resilience, creativity, and determination in the face of significant challenges, including lack of resources and political will.

Introduction: In the first episode of the Coming to the Mat podcast series, the hosts interview two members of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) to learn about their mission and how they are using their education to combat the climate crisis affecting Pacific Island nations.

In the first episode of the series, the hosts interview two members of the group to find out how they got started and how they are using their education to help mitigate the climate crisis that is affecting Pacific Island nations today. The episode highlights how the group launched a petition calling upon leaders of Pacific Island nations, as well as Australia and New Zealand, to commence the process of seeking an advisory opinion on human rights and climate change from the International Court of Justice. In 2021, the PISFC  welcomed the announcement by the Vanuatu Government to take on the campaign to seek an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the issue of climate change and human rights as a huge milestone for the campaign. This marks a significant step forward in the fight against climate change and a significant win for the Pacific Island students who have been fighting for their future. The podcast also discusses how this regional youth-led organization has been campaigning for an advisory opinion from the Court since 2019 and now has expanded throughout the Pacific with members from Primary schools, high schools and majority being University students.