Attorney General, Mr. Levi A. Peter, and Mrs. Vanica Sobers-Joseph, a Senior State Attorney comprised a team, representing Dominica, that presented arguments at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during proceedings examining state obligations related to climate change. These proceedings, held on December 3, 2024, are historically significant and seek to obtain an Advisory Opinion on the legal responsibilities of states to protect the climate system and the ramifications for those states whose actions exacerbate climate issues, particularly impacting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and future generations. The delegation from Dominica also featured Ms. Annika Kamilla Bellot, an Attorney-at-Law (AOSIS Fellow) and Attaché at Dominica’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
In his initial remarks, the Honourable Attorney General emphasized the severe threat that climate change poses to Dominica and other SIDS. He highlighted the damaging effects resulting from the increasing frequency and strength of storms, alongside rising sea levels. He called upon the Court to recognize the legal responsibilities of states to safeguard the climate system and advocated for a framework of fairness that demands accountability from those disproportionately contributing to global warming.
Mrs. Sobers-Joseph urged the Court to utilize the Advisory Opinion to confront climate change directly and to enhance justice and accountability, grounded in the principles of customary international law. She encouraged the Court not to restrict its analysis solely to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. Instead, she asserted that high-emission states bear a duty to prevent environmental damage and uphold due diligence obligations towards vulnerable nations, like Dominica, emphasizing that a healthy environment is a human right.
The hearings commenced on Monday, December 2, 2024, and gathered SIDS, other nations, and international organizations to highlight the urgent need for legal clarity and accountability in addressing the global climate crisis. These proceedings are set to continue over the following two weeks, with a conclusion scheduled for Friday, December 13, 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
Remarking on the country’s bid to tackle the issue of climate resilience, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said, “This engagement at the ICJ reflects Dominica’s unwavering leadership in global climate advocacy. As the nation strives to become the world’s first climate-resilient country, it remains resolute in championing the rights of SIDS and future generations. Dominica continues to call for strengthened international cooperation and accountability to address the mounting challenges of the climate crisis.”
We still playing Stevie Wonder acting like we not seeing them planes everyday in the sky manipulating the weather? We have dem suit and tie telling us is climate change when we seeing it in our eyes everyday???
All now none of our authorities cannot explain them planes, but everyday is to try and program the population with their climate change sotness!!!
I’m convinced that Climate Change is real. However, I submit that our islands do very little to combat this phenomenon.
The governments send these highly paid imposters to these international forums, with well prepared scripts, begging to be monetarily compensated for the damage done to their countries by adverse climatic changes.
Meanwhile, they do nothing domestically to mitigate against the onset of these horrific storms, severe heat waves, prolonged droughts, et cetera.
Deforestation goes on unabated, more used vehicles are imported than ever before, lack of proper drainage systems give rise to flooding, and the list goes on. These meetings are more empty rhetoric than any meaningful actions and solutions.
Human Rights you all hve to answer to and constitutional rights violations on foreign soil. Dominica is in a terrible situation.
I hope when that time comes some of you all will be disbarred.
These individuals are out there thinking people want them on them. Climate nothingness this is what they are involved in. Levi Peters he is one of the violators as well.
Dominica is being reported to human rights hopefully when that time comes the record will show and you all will not be abel to say no.
Earlier this week you and your blue ignorant party was saying the government was interfering in court business.You foolishly want Dominicans to believe you and your blue party did not take Rayburn Blackmore to the cleaners for saying the accused should not be on bail.You Truth want the accused bailed so you can say “I told you they would bail him because he is a passport seller.”
Meanwhile, the number of unsolved murders on the Caribbean island of the Commonwealth of Dominica keeps growing day by day! While his government is trying to get its CBI agent accused murderer off on bail.