For communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis in Vanuatu, across the Pacific, and beyond – everything is at stake. When a climate disaster hits, crops are wiped out, livelihoods are destroyed, and women face more gender-based violence.
Bringing her voice to the world’s highest court
Last year, Flora travelled to The Hague to deliver her testimony to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), carrying with her the stories of women on the frontlines of the climate crisis. “Climate change has shattered our lives,” she shared. “It’s stolen our livelihoods, our food, and our peace. 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.”
“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. In our communities, we are constantly preparing, but we have never recovered. We need to save the nation for future generations.”
As Flora delivered her testimony at the ICJ in December, she issued a plea to world leaders: “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 wait is over
Seven months after delivering her testimony, Flora gathered with her community of women in Vanuatu who have been working tirelessly to prepare and respond to climate disasters, making sure no one is left behind. Watching the video stream online from The Hague, it was after midnight in Vanuatu when Flora and her community got the news they had all been hoping for.
In a landmark decision, the ICJ delivered its advisory opinion that countries harmed by climate change can demand restitution and compensation from countries that fail to take climate action. The Court also ruled that all countries have a legal obligation to take climate action. And polluting countries like Australia have an even greater obligation to act, because they have done more to cause the problem. Polluting countries must phase out fossil fuels, align their climate plans with a 1.5°C future, and compensate frontline communities for the damage they’ve caused.
For Flora and countless others across the Pacific, the ruling is a long-awaited turning point. “This historic legal decision from the ICJ gives us hope that communities, especially women and girls on the frontlines of this crisis, will finally be able to fight back for justice and accountability,” she said.
“The powerful polluters don’t seem to care that their actions are destroying countries like mine, and intensifying burdens on women, who often bear the brunt of climate impacts. We can feel so helpless as we lose our homes, our livelihoods, and our safety to terrifying storms and rising seas. This ruling is a powerful tool we can use to demand that those most responsible for this climate crisis be held accountable. As the planet’s weather becomes more chaotic, this ruling paves the way for the protections and reparations we desperately need to rebuild our lives and secure a just future.”
For Flora, the fight is far from over. Now with the world’s highest court ruling in favour of Pacific activists, she’s more determined than ever to see climate justice for women everywhere.