Statement of the UN Resident Coordinator on the ICJ’s Landmark Ruling on the Legal Obligations of States Concerning Climate Change

We commend Papua New Guinea for its leadership in joining the group of countries that sought the ICJ’s guidance, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and global solidarity. This leadership is particularly meaningful given the country’s vulnerability to climate impacts, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and climate-induced displacement.

The ICJ opinion strengthens the legal foundations of climate justice, underscoring that failure to act on climate change violates international law and endangers fundamental human rights, including the right to life, health, education, water, food, nutrition, and a healthy environment.

For vulnerable nations like PNG, the advisory ruling reinforces the urgent need for inclusive and sustainable development policies that prioritise climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, climate-smart WASH adaptation, and social protection, particularly for women, youth and adolescents, children, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities.

The UN Country Team reaffirms its collective commitment to support Papua New Guinea in translating these global obligations into national action, working through joint programmes and agency initiatives across climate change adaptation and mitigation; sustainable agriculture and biodiversity; gender equality, and engagement with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as with the youth, children, persons with disabilities, and persons living with HIV and other key populations; sexual and reproductive health and justice; prevention of gender-based violence, Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) and other harmful practices; health resilience; and climate-related migration, displacement, and planned relocation.

This is a pivotal moment to act. The UN in PNG stands in full solidarity with the Government and peoples of Papua New Guinea in advancing climate justice, protecting human rights, and securing a sustainable future for all.