Small island nations seek protection from ocean pollution, climate change

Subject: Environment

Section: Climate change

Context:

A landmark climate justice case will start its hearing in the United Nations maritime tribunal in Hamburg, Germany, on September 11, 2023.

About the case:

Regarded as the first climate justice case aimed at saving the ocean.
The small island nations that have been disproportionately harmed by the climate crisis will go up against high-emitting nations.
Basis of the case: A group of nine SIDS countries will urge the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to rule on whether greenhouse gas emissions absorbed by the marine environment should be considered pollution. It will also seek the tribunal’s advisory opinion on the obligations countries have to prevent it.
The Law of the Sea, ratified by 169 parties, mandates that countries take measures to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution.
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a group of low-lying island nations that are home to approximately 65 million people and extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change — despite being responsible for less than 1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Participants in the case:
- Some 35 countries and three intergovernmental organisations: African Union, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and Pacific Community and the Commission of Small Islands States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS).

Commission of Small Islands States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS):

Formed in: 2021.
Tuvalu, Antigua and Barbuda have established COSIS to seek advisory opinions from the International Tribunal for the law of the sea, particularly on their endeavors to clarify states’ international legal obligations to combat climate change effects.
Antigua and Barbuda and Tuvalu are the co-chairs of the COSIS.
6 members: Antigua, Barbuda, Tuvalu, Niue, Vanuatu, and St Lucia.