Foreign Affairs Minister Highlights ICJ Climate Opinion as Legal Victory for SIDS

Foreign Affairs Minister Highlights ICJ Climate Opinion as Legal Victory for SIDS

New York, USA,  Tuesday 23 September 2025  – Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Peter Shanel Agovaka, has welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, describing it as a decisive outcome for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Minister Shanel represented Solomon Islands at the Palau–Germany Lunch on International Climate Policy on Monday 22 September, where leaders and partners discussed the implications of the ICJ ruling, preparations for COP30, and the financing challenges faced by vulnerable states.

The Advisory Opinion, issued on 23 July 2025, confirmed that obligations to address climate change are binding under international law, not merely political commitments. It affirmed that states must act with due diligence to prevent significant harm to the climate system, uphold human rights, and ensure the protection of both present and future generations.

Of particular importance to Solomon Islands, the Court recognised that the principle of non-refoulement applies to people displaced by climate change, ensuring they cannot be returned to uninhabitable territories. This directly reflects submissions made by Solomon Islands on the issue of climate mobility and displacement.

“The ICJ Opinion is a victory for SIDS and a call for urgent global solidarity,” Minister Shanel said. “It strengthens our case for accountability from major emitters and for financial and technical support to help our people adapt and survive in the face of climate impacts.”

The Minister said Solomon Islands will continue to advance these priorities in regional and global forums, including COP30, and will work with partners to ensure that international law is translated into practical support for vulnerable communities.

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