“Tonga’s first ever written statement for the Advisory Proceedings on the obligations of states in respect of Climate Change before the International Court of Justice”

15 March 2024

On 15 March 2024, His Majesty’s Government approved Tonga’s first ever Written Statement to the International Court of Justice for the Advisory Proceedings concerning the Obligation of States in Respect of Climate Change.

Tonga’s Written Statement incorporates Tonga’s priorities in the context of climate change and the impacts it has encountered at a national level and at an individual level. It draws the attention of the Court to the impacts of climate change on Tonga’s land, sea, people, economy and the impact which Tonga’s future generations will encounter.

Tonga’s Written Statement was prepared by the Tonga Core Team comprised of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Climate Change, External Counsels, in collaboration with line Ministries in Government, the PISFCC, and important stakeholders from the community giving testimonials on how climate change has impacted the private and community level sector.

The Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Hu‘akavameiliku, signed thirty (30) copies of Tonga’s Written Statement pursuant to the filing requirement of the International Court of Justice. This will be hand carried to the Netherlands this Saturday for filing with the Registry of the International Court of Justice on Tuesday 19 March 2024 at 10:15am. This will meet the due date of the Court which has been set for 22 March 2024.

Tonga will participate in the Reply round before June 2024 and the oral proceedings before the International Court of Justice which will take place later this year or early 2025 at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, The Netherlands.

-ENDS-