By Staff Reporter
Flora Vano, ActionAid Vanuatu’s country manager, is set to testify remotely at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing on December 3, delivering a heartfelt plea for climate justice on behalf of her nation.
In her testimony, Vano is expected to detail the harrowing toll climate change has inflicted on Vanuatu, a Pacific Island nation frequently described as being on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
“Climate change has shattered our lives. It’s stolen our livelihoods, our food, and our peace,” Vano said ahead of her appearance. “Our waters are poisoned, our lands barren. Women and children bear the heaviest burden, walking endless miles for scarce, clean water. We are trapped in a cycle of destruction, unable to recover.”
The stakes could not be higher for Vanuatu, which faces increasingly devastating storms, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation.
Vano’s testimony highlights the perpetual state of preparedness and recovery that has become a grim reality for her nation.
“We have lost to climate crises, the tears we shed when we are helpless, and the pain we endure because of the loss we encounter,” she said. “In our communities, we are constantly preparing, but we have never recovered. We need to save the nation for future generations.”
Vano’s appeal is also a direct challenge to world leaders and wealthy nations, urging them to take decisive action. She calls for an immediate end to fossil fuel extraction and insists on financial accountability for the damage caused by decades of pollution.
“World leaders hear our plea. This isn’t fiction; it’s our daily reality. Stop fossil fuel extraction and take responsibility for the pollution. We need rich polluting countries to fund our adaptation, mitigation, and recovery with grants, not loans. This will allow us to rebuild and thrive, for the sake of our children and their children.”
The ICJ hearing marks a critical moment for Vanuatu and other vulnerable nations as they seek legal clarity on the obligations of states to address climate-induced harm.
Vano’s testimony will add a human face to the legal arguments, emphasizing the urgent need for collective global action to combat the worsening climate crisis.
For Vanuatu, the stakes are nothing less than existential. The island nation’s survival hinges on the actions taken by the international community today, not tomorrow.
