๐จ๐ก๐จ-๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐
#๐ช๐๐๐ณ๐ต | ๐๏ธ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ
@UNU_IIGH, in collaboration with the ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐, Medicus Mundi International (
@mmi_updates), and Geneva Global Health Hub (
@G2H2_Geneva), convened a side event during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva to strengthen global engagement on the
@CIJ_ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change.
On 20 May, the ๐จ๐ก ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐น๐, backed by 141 Member States, adopted the Vanuatu-initiated resolution endorsing the ICJ Advisory Opinion. It marks a historic moment as Member States have chosen to stand behind the ICJ legal blueprint and reaffirm that the rule of law must guide the global response to climate change.
Dr. ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ถ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐บ๐๐ฒ๐น, Director of Corporate Services of the Ministry of Health of Vanuatu๐ป๐บ, stated in his intervention that for countries like Vanuatu, this is not about politics โ it is about survival. The right to health cannot exist where communities are submerged, where families lose access to food and clean water, and where repeated climate disasters overwhelm fragile systems. Health must be at the center of climate financing mechanisms and global climate action.
Dr. Revati Phalkey (
@RPhalkey), Director of UNU-IIGH, emphasized that this moment reflects years of sustained advocacy, legal effort, and multilateral collaboration to position climate change as a critical health and human rights issue. Dr. Phalkey also highlighted the central role of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and youth movements in advancing this agenda.
Dr. Remco van de Pas (
@Rvandepas), Research Lead of UNU-IIGH, moderated the side event and, in his closing remarks, stressed that the health movement has successfully addressed major international crises in the past, including nuclear disarmament, HIV treatment and prevention, sexual and reproductive rights, and access to essential medicines. We can learn from these past struggles and tactics.
The discussion explored:
๐น The origins and global momentum behind the ICJ Advisory Opinion, and what the ruling means for the health sector
๐น Practical and governance pathways for implementation
๐น Vanuatuโs and other Pacific SIDS leadership and support for the ICJ Advisory Opinion, alongside broader multilateral efforts
๐น Perspectives from delegates from the Philippines, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and Colombia
๐น The role of equity and youth advocacy in advancing climate and health action
๐น Platforms for awareness-raising, advocacy, policy dialogue, and strengthened collaboration
The event brought together representatives from international organizations, governments, diplomatic missions, civil society, youth movements, and academia, including the
@UN, the
@WHO, the ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ, and several country delegations and research institutions from across the Global South.