Participation in the oral proceedings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change in December 2024 presented the Government of Kiribati with an opportunity to contribute to the shaping of how international law will address and respond to climate change.
It also presented a key challenge: securing the funding needed to send a delegation to The Hague to deliver the oral statement. The ICJ hearings arose after Kiribati’s national budget had been finalised, prompting the government to seek external support for the statement’s development and delegation travel and logistical costs.
Among the partners the Government of Kiribati approached for support was the New Zealand Government, through its Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP).
CFCSP provided engagement and coordination support
Nick Leffler, CFCSP Partner Engagement Lead, supported Kiribati and liaised closely with partners supporting the delegation, including the Pacific Community (SPC), the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and the Vanuatu Climate Justice Program.
While the primary request for support came through the CFCSP from the Government of Kiribati, CFCSP’s early engagement prompted a request from the Vanuatu Climate Justice Program for travel support, which resulted in pooling funds with a separate New Zealand government climate finance programme.
The Kiribati delegation
The Kiribati delegation was led by His Excellency, Mr Teburoro Tito, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and included, Mr Aretaake Ientaake, Director of Human Rights, Ministry of Justice and their legal adviser. Travel support was also provided for another 18 delegates from 11 Pacific countries.
Support allows Pacific nations to focus on the job at-hand
In addition, on-the-ground logistical and administrative support for all Pacific delegates provided the opportunity to focus on amplifying the region’s voice on global climate issues, reinforcing the region’s commitment to leadership and advocacy.
This behind-the-scenes coordination allowed delegates to focus fully on their testimonies which was critical in a high-pressure environment where oral statements were being written and revised repeatedly, sometimes up until just an hour before delivery.
“The support from CFCSP, and particularly from Nick in The Hague, meant we could focus on the work we needed to do. Without this support, we would not have been able to present our oral statements to the ICJ in person. The coordination in-country and support for us and our Pacific colleagues meant we could engage with our state partners, and this made it all much easier," said Director Ientaake
In The Hague, New Zealand’s support extended beyond travel and accommodation and Nick’s in-person support.
“The little things like having a conference room in the hotel where we could observe the oral statements being delivered made a big difference.. This meant the Pacific delegates that were going to present the next day could observe and have the time and place and facilities to adjust their presentations as well and print out new versions," said Director Ientaake.
Director Ientaake concluded with a personal expression of gratitude for the support from New Zealand as, without it, he would have been required to juggle preparing for and presenting to the ICJ with managing the logistical support of the Kiribati delegation.
“I could not have done this without Nick’s support. With Nick, and the CFCSP and our other partners, I was able to focus on our oral presentation. And we were able to deliver our presentation and deliver it successfully – and that is the greatest outcome of this support,” he concluded.
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Feature image: Aretaake Ientaake (left), Kiribati’s Human Rights Director; Teburoro Tito (centre), Kiribati’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Nick Leffler (right), CFCSP Partner Engagement Lead.