Pacific Elders Voice slams Australia for ‘incoherent’ stance on climate change

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Australia may risk losing the Pacific islands’ support for its bid to host COP31

in 2026 due to its “incoherent” stance on climate change, according to the Pacific Elders Voice.

While praising the International Court of Justice’s recent advisory opinion on greenhouse gas emitters' legal obligations on climate change, PEV slammed the Australian court’s decision on the Torres Strait Islands case.

The Australian Federal Court ruled that greenhouse gas emissions are a matter of core government policy to be decided in parliament, not in courts.

At the same time, the court acknowledged that the Torres Strait Islands are more

 vulnerable to climate change than other communities in Australia.

The decision was made in the context of a case brought by Torres Strait Islanders seeking protection from climate change impacts.

PEV, a regional panel composed of former and incumbent Pacific island leaders, described the decision as “disappointing” and “disconcerting.”

“Australia’s hypocrisy and incoherence were particularly obvious when, on the one hand, it acknowledged that climate change poses the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of small island states, including Pacific island states, but on the other, argued that further legal obligations should not extend beyond what was covered by international climate treaties such as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement,” PEV said.

PEV raised doubts over the continuing Pacific support for Australia’s bid to 

host COP31 in 2026, “when it was directly undermining the existentiality of 

Pacific island countries guaranteed under the provisions of the Boe Declaration to which Australia is committed as a signatory.”

While disappointed with Australia, PEV was pleased with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion declaring that states and major emitters have binding legal obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions and repair the harm already inflicted on vulnerable nations.

“The ICJ reinforces that the 1.5 degrees Celsius is an obligation and it is incumbent on all countries, especially the rich, industrialized high emitters, to ensure alignment of their NDC targets and ambition,” PEV said. 

"The opinion should now inform actions and decisions at all levels, national and international," the Pacific elders said, noting that the court’s opinion has opened up new and various avenues to seek climate justice under international law.

“It also vindicates the various submissions made by SIDS and like-minded nations to the ICJ in the face of countries including Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States arguing that developed countries do not have a legal responsibility to tackle climate change, beyond the existing multilateral mechanisms such as the UNFCCC,” they added.

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