ICJ Advisory Campaign - PISFCC This project will support the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJAO) campaign led by Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC). PISFCC is a youth-led organisation whose members are students from the Pacific Island countries. The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP27) being held in November 2022 is the most significant remaining opportunity for PISFCC to advance its campaign goals. PISFCC aims to achieve maximum impact at UNFCCC COP27 with the aim of gaining and reinforcing the support of a majority of UNGA member states for Vanuatu’s resolution for an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJAO) on climate change. Once the ICJ takes an advisory case, it invites all states to make written submissions. Any small state that wanted to take a position could readily find NGOs and academics that would be very happy to draft submissions for it at no charge. So the ICJ would be flooded with detailed briefs and factual statements.

PISFCC spearheadsthe global civil society campaign supporting the ICJAO and so it is essential for us to have a strong presence at UNFCCC COP27. A strong contingent will enable us to contribute many significant inputs throughout the event. PISFCC is planning attendance at COP27 for our three campaigners, six members of our executive committee, and four ordinary
members.
PPISFCC aims to organise two side events at COP27, as follows:
Side Event
One will be held in the Youth Pavilion (inside the Blue Zone). The speakers at the event will be government officials representing different geographic regions from states who have self-identified as “ICJAO Champions”. The theme for discussion at the event will be the question that Vanuatu is proposing the UNGA should ask the ICJ, viewed from the perspective of supportive governments.

Side EventTwo (Greenzone). The speakers at this event will be youth representatives on the ICJAO campaign from different regions around the world. This event will see youth speak on their interest in the ICJAO campaign and their perspectives on the legal question.The conclusion of this event will be followed by a youth reception that will be explained below.
Deliverables for the side events:
● At least 40 people will attend each event including several high-level government officials.
● Video recordings will be available and they will be live streamed.
● Content generated from these events will be used in our targeted socialmedia campaigns to maintain momentum in the digital space.

Based on past experience we anticipate that all PISFCC members will be offered opportunities to speak at other side events on an ad hoc basis – at COPs many planned speakers are unable to attend and organisers often welcome a “Pacific youth perspective”.
CCOP27 offers an excellent opportunity to build the capacity of the PISFCC team,all of whom are passionate about using their skills and knowledge to prevent and respond to climate change. They have each demonstrated their passion by being active in local climate movements. PISFCC campaigners understand from past experience that there is no better way to up-skill a
young climate professional than by attending and participating in a UNFCCC COP. PISFCC therefore aims to useCOP27 – in addition to progressing our immediate goals – to develop skills among key individuals, to provide them with experience in real negotiations, and offer training enabling them to participate, contribute and represent at the highest political forums on climate change. Recalling that our team are all members of state delegations, they will participatein formal negotiations with each following a specific thematic area that is of interest to them (adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, oceans, finance, agriculture,technology transfer, etc). Our members will assist negotiators, produce meeting notes and briefs, conduct research, and
attend group meetings and strategy sessions. The training noted above will be specifically tailored for PISFCC COPattendees and will be presented on November 5-6.