The Dominican Republic made history this week by becoming the first Caribbean nation to address the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the urgent issue of climate change, Diario Libre reports. The country’s legal team, led by Boni Guerrero Canto, Legal Affairs director at the Ministry of Foreign Relations, presented a compelling case for immediate global action to mitigate the effects of climate change, Diario Libre reported.
“The Dominican Republic firmly believes that the ICJ is uniquely positioned to assist the international community in addressing this existential threat,” Guerrero Canto stated during his address to the Court. “Climate change is an unprecedented challenge to civilization, and we need immediate decisions to confront it.”
The DR’s appearance at the ICJ comes as small island nations and coastal states worldwide face increasing threats from rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification. Guerrero Canto highlighted the specific challenges facing the Dominican Republic, including the significant contribution of the waste sector to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“Greenhouse gases have an unequivocal impact on our climate system,” Guerrero Canto warned. “The Dominican Republic is committed to playing its part in the global effort to reduce emissions and build resilience.”
Alejandra Torres Camprubí, a legal advisor for the Dominican Republic, further emphasized the country’s concerns about the potential loss of territory due to rising sea levels. She argued that states have an international obligation to prevent activities that could lead to the disappearance of other states.
The DR’s legal team also called on the ICJ to affirm the fundamental right to life, the right to development, and the obligation to respect the territorial integrity of nations in the context of climate change.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
11 December 2024