Vanuatu chief dazzled by worldwide climate rule
Vanuatu Chiefs Celebrate International Court’s Climate‑Protection Verdict
George Bumseng, Highest Chief of Ambrym, Expresses Gratitude
The paramount chief of Vanuatu’s volcanic island, George Bumseng, met the international court’s ruling that countries must confront the “urgent and existential” threat of global warming. “I’m very impressed,” Bumseng told AFP at Port Vila’s council of chiefs meeting house, after his island endured three tropical cyclones in 2023.
2023 Cyclone Strikes on Ambrym
- March – Twin cyclones Judy and Kevin
- October – Cyclone Lola
These storms damaged root crops, forests, and traditional medicinal plants. “We no longer have fig trees, and coastal erosion continues,” Bumseng added, noting his concern that “our tide is also changing.”
Youth Voices Amplify the Court Decision
Students at Vanuatu’s Suango primary and secondary school, which still relies on tents after 2023 cyclones and a 2024 earthquake, held paper signs reading:
- Rising seas threaten our shores
- Our school is threatened by sea level rise
At a student festival in Port Vila, Susan Alexander said she and her peers were “very happy” with the decision, recalling Vanuatu’s vulnerability over recent years. “We have experienced cyclones and sea level rise across our country. This country lies in our hands,” Alexander told AFP.
Court Challenge Originated in Vanuatu’s Classroom
Six years of legal push began in a small university classroom, where 27 Vanuatu law students decided to present the world’s biggest problem before the world’s highest court. Their frustration with global efforts to tackle climate change drove their bold step toward a historic international judgement.
