The Island Nations Who Took the World to Court — And Why It Matters for All of Us
- Climate Hope
- Aug 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 17
A Corgi for Climate Justice Blog | August 2025
In a world where the worst climate impacts hit the people who did the least to cause them, one thing is clear: pledges aren’t enough.
We need accountability.
That’s why Pacific island nations—led by Vanuatu—brought their case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), asking:
Do countries have a legal obligation to protect people from the climate crisis—and can they be held accountable for harm?
With support from 165 nations, the ICJ will deliver its opinion in 2026. It won’t be legally binding, but it could reshape international law, strengthen lawsuits, and push big polluters toward real responsibility.
Small Nations, Big Power
Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Palau may be small, but their voices are loud. Backed by youth, Indigenous leaders, and global allies (even corgis), they’ve turned a legal case into a moral reckoning.
“The stakes are not high, they’re devastatingly high.” —Julian Aguon, attorney for Vanuatu
What’s a Corgi Got to Do With It?
Corgi 4 ClimateJustice was born out of love: for the ocean, for frontline voices and for the joy that keeps us going in the hardest fights.
So when we saw the corgi walking along the coast this week, it wasn’t just cute. It was a reminder.
Even the smallest among us can move mountains (or… take down Goliaths in court).
Take Action
👀 Listen & Follow The ICJ Climate Opinion Explained — episode of Outrage + Optimism.
🌊 Join & Subscribe
Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change — the youth movement behind the ICJ case.
⚖️ Read & Support Earthjustice Response to ICJ Opinion — perspectives from the U.S.'s "premier nonprofit environmental law organization"
📢 Listen & Share Follow us on Instagram and spread frontline voices demanding justice, not just survival.
🌎 Climate Action Organizations to Inspire
From This Blog:
Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change – youth leading the push for the ICJ case.
Earthjustice – “Because the Earth needs a good lawyer.”
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💬 Tell Us in the Comments
Even in crisis, joy and style survive. Every frontline fight, every coral reef saved, every corgi step is part of a bigger pattern of hope. How do you keep walking with hope? Tell us in the comments.
💌 Stay hopeful. Stay loud. Subscribe to our newsletter for more joyful resistance and climate wins.
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