Join-us! June, 29th 2023: Recognizing and strengthening Rights of Future Generations: From the ICJ Climate Case to the UN Summit of the Future –

Diplomatic Roundtable Thursday June 29 

The Diplomat Ballroom, Millennium Hilton, One UN Plaza, New York 

9:45-13:00 New York Time / Registration and coffee from 9:15

Hosted by Normandy Chair for Peace, Permanent Mission of Vanuatu to the UN
& Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN

Cosponsors: Basel Peace Office, Coalition for the UN We Need, International Council of Environmental Law, Institute for Gouvernance and Sustainable Development (IGSD), University for Peace (UPEACE), World Future Council, World’s Youth for Climate Justice

Simultaneous online translation in 
Arabic, English, French and Spanish 

(via your personal smartphone, tablet or laptop even for the in person event
please come with your headphones)

Livestreamed (no translation): https://www.facebook.com/NormandyChairForPeace

Event outline:

On March 29, 2023 the UN General Assembly decided by consensus to request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an Advisory Opinion on the following questions:

(1)  What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations;

(2)  What are the legal consequences under these obligations for States where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment, with respect to:

(a)  States, including, in particular, small island developing States, which due to their geographical circumstances and level of development, are injured or specially affected by or are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change?

(b)  Peoples and individuals of the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change?”

The ICJ has invited the United Nations and member States to submit information to the court relevant to the above questions by October 20, 2023.

In addition, on September 8, 2022, the UN General Assembly decided by consensus to hold a Summit of the Future on September 22-23, 2024 and a Ministerial Meeting on September 18, 2023, with the objectives to “strengthen global governance for the sake of present and future generations”, to  “advance Our Common Agenda” and to “respond to current and future challenges.”

Session 1: Rights of Future Generations and the ICJ Case on Climate Change

9:45 – 11:15

Chair: Alyn Ware (New Zealand/Czech Republic). Strategic Head of Normandy Chair for Peace Climate Justice Program. Co-Chair, World Future Council Working Group for the UN Summit of the Future. 

Speakers: 

• Mr. Sanlan William (Vanuatu), Deputy Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN
• Mr Arnold Kiel Loughman (Vanuatu), Attorney General of Vanuatu 
• Prof. Emilie Gaillard (France) Scientific Director, Normandy Chair for Peace. Expert on Rights of Future Generations

Session 1 includes a briefing and discussion on the body of international law protecting the rights of future generations, examples of the application of this law in international tribunals in particular the ICJ, and the relevance of this law to the ICJ case on Climate Change. The primary purposes of this discussion are to encourage and support countries and international organizations in making submissions to the ICJ on the climate case by the deadline of October 30, 2023, and to ensure that rights of future generations are included in such submissions.

Session 2: Rights of Future Generations and the UN Summit of the Future

11:30 – 13:00

Chair: Mr. Sanlan William (Vanuatu), Deputy Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN

Speakers: 

• H.E. Mr. Narinder Kakar, Permanent Observer of the University for Peace to the UN.
• Prof. Emilie Gaillard (France) Scientific Director, Normandy Chair for Peace. Expert on Rights of Future Generations
• Jeffery Huffines (USA), Senior Advisor, Coalition for the UN we Need 
• Alyn Ware (New Zealand/Czech Republic). Co-Chair, World Future Council Working Group for the UN Summit of the Future. Strategic Head of Normandy Chair for Peace Climate Justice Program.
  

Session 2 includes an update on the preparatory process for the UN Summit of the Future, and a discussion on principles and mechanisms for protecting the rights of future generations that are being proposed for consideration at the UN Summit – including in the draft Pact for the Future and the mandate for a UN Special Envoy of Future Generations. The session will also include discussion of the relationship between the law being advanced in the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change and the obligations and program of action being developed through the UN Summit of the Future. 

Background information:

• Legal Memorandum for the ICJ AO on Climate Change:  Original in English. Translations in Arabic, French and Spanish.
• Emerging law: Ecocide and the Rights of Future Generations, Prof Emilie Gaillard, University of Caen Normandy, 2016

Academia Website: https://sciencespo-rennes.academia.edu/EmilieGAILLARD

• Nuclear weapons and law for the future: The application of principles protecting future generations in international tribunals, Alyn Ware, International Representative, Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace, December 2020

Contacts:
Emilie Gaillard emilie.gaillard@sciencespo-rennes.fr    Alyn Ware: alyn@pnnd.org.  CC:  www.normandychairforpeace.org

Join us :

Live Stream Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/NormandyChairForPeace/videos

Vanuatu ICJ initiative : https://www.vanuatuicj.com/