Advisory opinion of the ITLOS on climate change and International Law on the Request of Small Island Developing States (SIDS): a Sustainable Development Goal - 14 (SDG 14) perspective

Recently, international judicial forums have issued landmark advisory opinions on the subject of the ocean–climate nexus. The opinions are based on the recognition of the interconnection between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). All judicial forums stated that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct focus due to their disproportionate vulnerability to climate change, as reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). According to the opinions, SIDS could become uninhabitable in the coming years, necessitating urgent global climate action. The United Nations (UN) has acknowledged the unique challenges of SIDS through various resolutions, which emphasise the need for climate justice and adherence to the 1.5 C climate target. Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) brought attention to the direct impacts of climate change on oceans and the issues faced by SIDS. This paper reviews the historical and legal developments necessary for the sustainable development of SIDS, emphasising the nexus between climate change, ocean governance, and human rights. It highlights the potential for further advocacy and the interconnected nature of SDG 14 with judicial opinions.