In The Hague, the International Court of Justice has heard more testimony and arguments this week on how the unfolding climate catastrophe is creating an existential crisis for low-lying Pacific island nations. Those countries are demanding wealthy, polluting nations be held legally responsible for addressing the crisis they created. This is Laingane Italeli Talia, the attorney-general of Tuvalu, which could soon become the first country to be wiped from the map due to sea level rise.

Laingane Italeli Talia: “Tuvalu may soon become uninhabitable. In these circumstances, there can be no question that our fundamental right to self-determination is being violated. And in these proceedings, there is unsurprisingly considerable consensus across participants that climate change is impeding the right to self-determination.”

Today is the last day of hearings at the World Court, which is expected to publish its final advisory opinion on the matter in the new year.