Latest news with #islandnation
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
U.N. court says polluters can be held responsible for greenhouse gas emissions
The Republic of Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation of 320,000 people, has led a growing effort since 2021 to compel the United Nations to answer one of the most crucial legal questions related to climate change: Can polluters be held legally accountable for the harm they've caused as a result of releasing large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere? The short answer is: yes. Fifteen judges who make up the International Court of Justice, located at The Hague in the Netherlands, issued a unanimous advisory opinion saying countries "have a duty to prevent significant harm to the environment by acting with due diligence and to use all means at their disposal to prevent activities carried out within their jurisdiction or control from causing significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment." The court further stated that existing environmental treaties, international human rights law, and participation in the United Nations further compels countries to do everything possible to protect the climate. Any wrongful act that violates these agreements must be immediately stopped, followed by "full reparations" and compensation made to the injured parties. "Vanuatu looks forward to collaborating with other States on implementing the Court's decision," Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's minister of climate change and environment, said in a statement. "A victory in the world's highest court is just the beginning. Success will depend on what happens next through coordinated efforts across diplomacy, politics, litigation, and advocacy to turn this moment into a true turning point." For Vanuatu, a country that comprises 83 islands with a combined size roughly the same as Connecticut, the decision is monumental. Officials said the country was responsible for less than 0.0004% of global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 1962 and 2022, but experiences disproportionate impacts of climate change. In addition to its average temperature rising, Vanuatu is seeing more severe and intense tropical cyclones. In 2023, it was hit by three cyclones that were Category 4 or higher, impacting nearly 200,000 residents and costing the country more than $400 million in economic damages. The western tropical Pacific Ocean has risen 4-6 inches between 1992-2020, which is particularly dangerous for the country as much of it is low-lying and vulnerable to erosion. All of this, along with increased precipitation and periods of drought, has caused entire communities to be relocated by the government, and the impacts are anticipated to grow more severe. "Today, the world's smallest countries have made history," Vishal Prasad, director of Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, said in a statement. "The ICJ's decision brings us closer to a world where governments can no longer turn a blind eye to their legal responsibilities. It affirms a simple truth of climate justice: those who did the least to fuel this crisis deserve protection, reparations, and a future. This ruling is a lifeline for Pacific communities on the frontline." While the advisory opinion is not legally binding, environmental organizations and law experts are hopeful that the ruling can set a legal precedent for the thousands of climate change cases around the world that are attempting to hold larger governments and companies accountable for climate pollution. "This opinion can serve as a compass for countries who are thinking about how to prioritize justice and prioritize the safety of their citizens while also being in compliance with international law," said Carly Phillips, a research scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists who worked with the legal teams of seven countries that submitted supporting statements to the court asking for the opinion. The United States does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, but it did submit a written statement in March 2024 and participated in oral arguments, arguing that members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2015 Paris Agreement already compel signatories to address climate change impacts and protects them from accountability for harming the climate. But Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat has been skeptical of the power of the U.N. convention and the Paris Agreement, saying in a statement that neither are "generating the actions the world urgently needs fast enough." He believes a favorable opinion from the court could "support vulnerable nations in securing climate finance, technology, and loss and damage support." The court addressed this concern in its opinion and dismissed the legal argument that environmental treaties, like the Paris Agreement, protect polluters from accountability. In fact, the court emphasized that the Paris Agreement imposes strong mitigation and adaptation obligations on all parties and requires them to respond to loss and damages from climate change. Given that the United States is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, according to international data, the decision to hold large emitters responsible might be concerning, but President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement for a second time earlier this year. The court called out countries like the United States, saying that nations that are not party to climate treaties but are members of the United Nations must meet "equivalent obligations under customary international law." The impact of the opinion remains to be seen. "It's likely not going to have a lot of influence in the United States," said Maria Antonia Tigre, director of global climate litigation at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. Tigre said that while the decision may not influence domestic court cases in the U.S. and the country can't be sued under the decision, the real impact could be seen internationally. A court in Brazil, for example, could cite the opinion in one of the 135 current climate change cases making its way through its domestic court system. The U.N. court also pointed out that corporate polluters are open to the advisory opinion, especially if they are based abroad in a country that is party to the U.N. and climate treaties. "Countries have an obligation to put an end to wrongful acts," said Tigre. "If a country is found to be in breach by giving permits to an oil company, they may need to revoke those permits." Representatives for Vanuatu said the next step is to take the decision back to the U.N. General Assembly to pursue a full resolution to support the implementation of the decision. The opinion will be a primary focus when U.N. countries meet in November for the next climate change conference, known as COP30, in Brazil.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vanuatu carries hopes of nations threatened by climate change to world court
The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is living with the everyday catastrophe of climate change. On Wednesday, backed by more than 130 countries, Vanuatu will get its day in the world's highest court. (AP Video by Annika Hammerschlag. Produced by Julián Trejo Bax)
Khaleej Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE residents can now migrate to Maldives through new investment residency programme
UAE residents looking to migrate under residence by investment programme now have a new choice. Maldives — one of the world's most popular tourist destinations — has tied with international investment migration advisory firm Henley and Partners to build an investor visa framework specifically linked to real estate acquisition. According to Henley and Partners, the programme is still in development stage and more details will be shared in due course. The island nation is quite a popular tourist destination among UAE residents for its beautiful beaches and luxury resorts. In addition, the UAE firms have invested billions of dirhams in the island nation and some recently announced projects including Samana Developers. Philippe Amarante, managing partner and head of government advisory for EMEA at Henley & Partners, said the investment migration programme will capitalise on the country's world-class real estate offerings. 'The Maldives has long been a world-class destination for travellers. With this programme, we aim to extend that legacy to discerning global investors who see value in our people, our potential, and our future,' said Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. 'The residence by investment programme will provide state-of-the-art properties with the utmost privacy and exclusivity. As a safe, stable, and peaceful island nation, the Maldives presents the ultimate hedge against geopolitical conflict or global pandemics, offering an unparalleled lifestyle and security to high-net-worth individual investors and their families,' he said. The new residence by investment programme will help Maldives diversify beyond traditional tourism revenues, attracting foreign investment through real estate acquisition and stimulating growth hospitality, infrastructure, and services sectors. A statement issued by Maldives said that there will be a rigorous due diligence framework to ensure the programme attracts only qualified and reputable applicants. 'Final visa and residency approvals will remain under the sovereign discretion of the Government of the Maldives, with robust mechanisms in place to safeguard the country's international standing and reputation.' Spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres, the country — often described as a tropical paradise — is comprised of 1,190 Coral Islands, each surrounded by crystal-blue lagoons and grouped in a double chain of 27 atolls.
Zawya
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Message from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Independence Day of Cabo Verde
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, warmly congratulates the Government and people of Cabo Verde as they celebrate another year of independence. Today, we celebrate Cabo Verde's incredible journey of freedom, unity, and growth. The African Union remains dedicated to collaborating closely with Cabo Verde to support regional integration, sustainable development, and peace across Africa. Together with the people of Cabo Verde, we mark this important milestone and wish them ongoing prosperity and success in the future. Happy Independence Day! Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Coin Geek
24-06-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
Maldives makes strides in digital ID as Taiwan faces scrutiny
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Legislators in the Maldives are making strides toward enacting a digital ID legislation, with the most recent development being the initiation of a public consultation. Lawmakers are seeking public comments on the draft of the nation's Digital Identity Bill, which is designed to improve residents' identification by establishing the Maldives Digital Identity System (MDIDS). A community reading of the incoming legislation identifies five key objectives, the first of which is the provision of a system that allows residents to identify themselves in both in-person and online transactions. Furthermore, the system will prioritize privacy and data security while maintaining the economic benefits flowing from digital IDs. There are plans by authorities to use MDIDS as the foundation for a digital payment system akin to India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI). The Maldives is also eyeing the possibility of using the digital ID legislation to crack down on illegal migrants flooding the tiny island nation. Ahead of the legislative hurdles, members of the public are urged to submit written comments on the first draft of the bill. The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology (MoHST) will lead the consultation exercise and release all comments to the public. However, the MoHST will recognize requests for confidentiality provided they are justifiable, but a non-confidential version must be attached to the submission. 'The MoHST seeks comments from government stakeholders, the business community, and the general public on the draft Digital Identity Bill,' read the statement. 'All comments should be supported as much as possible by detailed explanations and must identify the sources that the respondent is relying on.' The Maldives is keen on catching up to regional first-movers in digitization and exploring the possibilities of partnerships. Recently, it partnered with Dubai-based MBS Global to build an $8.8 billion blockchain hub in an attempt to diversify its economy from tourism and fishing. The country has also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Estonia to explore emerging technology use cases for public services. Despite the forward-thinking initiatives, authorities are clamping down hard against illegal operators of digital currency services and other bad actors within their borders. Taiwan's digital ID system under fire Several months following the public launch of Taiwan's national digital ID system, the initiative has attracted significant criticism concerning the security and privacy risks it presents to the public. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko Ju-chun is leading the barrage of criticisms against the digital ID system, arguing that residents face grave risks. Dubbed the Natural Person Certificate system, over eight million digital certificates have been issued, but only around four million are in active use. The lawmaker revealed that bad actors are using the porous security system in the digital ID system for criminal purposes. Up to four times as many flagged bank accounts were opened using Natural Person Certificates over other means of identification, said Ju in a statement. Ju based his argument on the latest data from the Taiwanese Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC). He added that scammers are gaining access to innocent residents' personal details and using the digital ID system to open a wave of bank accounts for criminal activities. Commercial banks are striking back, with up to 17 institutions halting the use of digital IDs for identification purposes. Ju hints that more financial institutions are poised to pause the use of the Natural Person Certificate system, defeating the entire purpose of their creation in the first place. The lawmaker launched a tirade against the government over the handling of the security breaches in the digital ID system. He terms the government's approach as 'absurd,' noting that a public advisory urging individuals to set limits on transfers and asking banks to suspend withdrawals on inactive accounts is 'untrustworthy.' Ju extends his criticism to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, the National Police Agency, and the Ministry of Interior for failing to take decisive action against bad actors. He recommends new security measures to combat the rising tide of bad actors so the government can gain the waning public trust. 'Government agencies should stop promising lots and delivering little, and instead do their jobs, which is to make Taiwan a haven for digital technology developers, not scammers,' said Ju. Despite the criticisms of its digital ID system, Taiwan is marching on to introduce a wave of digital products for its residents. At the top of the list is a national digital wallet to be launched before the end of 2025 that will hold all citizens' personal information. The country is also rushing to plug the holes in its anti-money laundering (AML) rules, aligning itself with international standards. On the regulatory side of things, Taiwan has unveiled new digital asset rules and an artificial intelligence (AI) draft bill designed to improve economic gains. Watch: Digital identity, digital assets enable Web3 title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
