World Environment Day Question – What are your obligations to Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is a tropical island nation in the South Pacific.  They have declared a climate emergency due to the impact of global warming – fearing rising sea levels and severe weather will destroy the nation.

 

First question – Are the polluting countries of the world responsible?

Per this article, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a landmark resolution requesting the International Court of Justice issue an advisory opinion as to the obligations of other governments.

What do you think?  Is Vanuatu just in the wrong place at the wrong time, or do the other nations of the world have some responsibility and obligation to help them? 

 

Second question – If you feel other nations should help Vanuatu, how deep do we go down that rabbit hole?

 

• Is it just for Vanuatu, or for any country impacted by climate change (which, one could argue, would be all nations)?

 

• How far is the look-back – 5 years? 100 years?

 

• And if the world’s governments are responsible to each other, then who pays and who gets paid?

 

• Are the citizens and businesses in those nations also responsible….leading directly to your doorstep?

 

• Does this ultimately move us closer to a climate tax?