Sydney [Australia], September 14: Australia has been urged to wind down its fossil fuel exports by Vanuatu's climate change adaptation minister, who says a recent advisory opinion from the World Court suggests the responsibilities of states now extends beyond domestic emissions.
Ralph Regenvanu says Australia's long-held argument that it's only responsible for cutting the greenhouse gases it emits within its borders "is no longer tenable" following the International Court of Justice opinion delivered in July.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum, Regenvanu highlighted the World Court's advisory opinion specified the UNFCCC Paris Agreement is not the only framework on climate change countries must abide by going forward.
He says that the argument Australia has been making, that the domestic transition is sufficient under the Paris Agreement, is untenable.
The non-binding advisory opinion from the ICJ, initiated by a group of Pacific law students and spearheaded by Vanuatu, specifies fossil fuel production could count towards the host country and constitute an "internationally wrongful act".
The remarks land as Australia prepares to make a final approval decision on Woodside's North West Shelf major gas project that will allow it to operate out to 2070, with reports a call could be made within days.
Regenvanu was attending a side event making the case for a 100 per cent renewables-powered Pacific, with the minister speaking alongside Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo to launch a discussion paper on the matter, a joint effort of Australia's Smart Energy Council, Island Minds Vanuatu and the Renewable Energy Council Asia-Pacific.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has also been championing the cause, and while recognising small Pacific island states like his have contributed little to climate change, he "has long believed the best form of leadership is leadership by example".
A fully renewables-powered region could become a signature initiative of 2026 United Nation climate talks, its proponents argue, were Pacific island states and Australia successful in securing co-hosting rights from a competing bid from Turkey.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he and his counterparts at the Pacific Islands Forum were universally aligned on bringing COP31 to the climate-vulnerable region.
Australia is also due to set a 2035 emissions reduction target by the end of the month, a requirement under the Paris Agreement.
When questioned if Australia will heed the calls of its island neighbours to cut greenhouse gas emissions as fast as possible, Albanese stated action on climate is the "entry fee" to credibility in the Pacific.
Australia has also been trying to secure a security pact with Vanuatu but he and Prime Minister Jotham Napat failed to reach agreement while Albanese detoured via the island nation ahead of the leader talks in Solomon Islands.
Source:Fijian Broadcasting Corporation
