Vanuatu's Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Pacific legal experts, and Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change unpack what the ICJ Advisory Opinion and UNGA resolution actually won, what was diluted, and what negotiators must now secure on Loss and Damage, climate finance, and the 1.5°C goal at COP31. In July 2025, the International Court of Justice ruled that all states carry binding legal obligations to prevent climate harm - a case brought before the world's highest court on the strength of a campaign started by Pacific students. In May 2026, the UN General Assembly followed with a resolution welcoming that opinion and calling for its implementation. This resolution was endorsed by 140+ states, but questions remain as to how the resolution will be enforced and how liability will be considered. This session asks what comes next. Vanuatu's Minister Ralph Regenvanu, a Pacific legal expert, and Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) trace the journey from grassroots campaign to global legal precedent, and turn to what it should mean for COP31, from Loss and Damage to climate finance to the 1.5°C goal.

Venue

Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion

Speakers

(tbc)