In The Hague, Netherlands, a landmark climate case is underway at the International Court of Justice. Over two weeks of hearings, the court will consider what countries around the world are legally required to do to combat the climate disaster. The case was brought by low-lying island nations, which face an existential crisis caused by wealthier, polluting nations. This is Ralph Regenvanu, special envoy on climate change for Vanuatu, which is leading a coalition of more than 100 countries and organizations in the historic case.

Ralph Regenvanu: “Coming to the International Court of Justice, we are trying to find another way to get climate action that we need, that the IPCC says we need, that science says we need, but which so many countries, through political convenience and the power of fossil fuel lobby, refuse to take action on.”