What does the ICJ climate change decision mean for small islands?

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the ICJ's climate change decision for small island developing states.

In July 2025, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a unanimous advisory opinion affirming that states have legal obligations under international law to prevent environmental harm and uphold human rights while reducing emissions to stay within 1.5°C of warming. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this was a remarkable victory. But what are the political and legal implications, and how can big polluters be held to account? In this episode, Emily and Matt interview six people involved in the process to an offer a thorough expert account of what the ICJ opinion really means for SIDS.   Featuring: Emily Wilkinson (host)  | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global Matthew Bishop (host)  | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield Odo Tevi  | Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the United Nations Shiv Shankar  | Tuvalu Ambassador for Oceans and Climate Change, Special Envoy to The Commonwealth, and Permanent Representative to UNESCO and the UNFCC Bryce Rudyk  | Director, International Environmental Law Program, New York University and Senior Legal Advisor to the AOSIS Chair Nadia…

People in this episode

Hosts: Emily Wilkinson, Matthew Bishop

Guests: Odo Tevi, Shiv Shankar, Bryce Rudyk, Nadia Sánchez Castillo-Winckels, Coral Pasisi, Francesco Sindico

Topics covered

• climate change
• international law
• small island developing states
• environmental harm
• human rights
• emissions reduction

Keywords

• ICJ
• climate change decision
• small islands
• legal obligations
• environmental law
• emissions
• human rights
• SIDS

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: International Court of Justice, United Nations, UNESCO, UNFCC, New York University, Pacific Community, C2LI

Places: Vanuatu, Tuvalu

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