Exploring approaches to enhance climate change legislation, supporting climate change litigation and advancing the principle of intergenerational justice

Statement by: Yunei Kim, First Secretary, Australian Mission to the UN
As delivered

Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report.

Australia is acutely aware that the changing climate is having a significant impact on human rights. We have listened when members of the Pacific family have spoken with the authority and weight of lived experience regarding the adverse impacts of this global challenge.

Rising sea levels, climate change-induced food and water insecurity through salinisation and drought, and the increasing frequency of disasters, all threaten people’s ability to enjoy their human rights.

And we know the disproportionate impact of these challenges on First Nations peoples and those most likely to be in vulnerable situations – including women and girls, and those living with disability.

Indeed, in our region we recognise climate as an existential threat to the peoples of the Pacific.

Australia acknowledges the longstanding leadership of Small Island States, particularly Pacific Island States. We want to ensure strong Pacific voices continue to inform and engage in global discussions on climate change and we support measures which enable their participation.

This is why we are participating in proceedings before the International Court of Justice to and before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

We are committed to upholding and contributing to the development of international law, that has real life consequences for people whose lives are affected by climate change.

We ask the Special Rapporteur, how can States best collaborate to strengthen and support the capacity of their judicial systems to hear and respond to human rights-based climate change litigation?