Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change (Request for Advisory Opinion)

The Cabinet of Namibia, through Decision No. 14th/29.06.08.23/005, approved Namibia’s participation in the Advisory Opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This participation follows the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/276, which sought an Advisory Opinion from the ICJ on the obligations of states under international law regarding climate change.

Under Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution, Namibia shall actively promote and maintain the welfare of the Namibian people by adopting State policies aimed at promoting maintenance of ecosystems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of Namibia and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future. Given the droughts, floods and veldfires in Namibia, Namibia will highlight the importance of clarifying the legal obligations and State responsibility in respect of the harm of greenhouse gas emissions to the environment, including climate justice.

Namibia has actively engaged in these proceedings and successfully filed its Written Statement in March 2024 and Written Comments on 14 August 2024. The final step in these proceedings is for States to present oral hearings, scheduled for 2-13 December 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. Namibia is set to present its oral statement on 9 December 2024. The proceedings can be followed live by using the following link: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1b/k1b3m5wu2s (UN Web TV)

H.E. Ambassador Dr Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, Namibian Ambassador to Belgium, the European Union and accredited to The Netherlands and the ICJ, will deliver the introductory statement followed by the oral submissions presented by Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema, advised by Professor Phoebe Okowa. An able team of young Namibian and international professionals assisted in the research and crafting of these submissions.

Namibia remains committed to engage in the work of the ICJ on various topics of concern and importance and further remains committed to build capacity amongst Namibian experts to represent Namibia at international platforms like the ICJ.

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ISSUED BY:

Mr Edmund Khoaseb,

Acting Chief Public Relations Officer

0811420169 / 061 280 5280

Edmund.Khoaseb@moj.gov.na