What is the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) organization?

PISFCC is a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu who took legal action against climate change, helping secure a landmark UN court ruling that access to a clean environment is a human right.

How did Cyclone Winston impact Fiji in 2016?

Cyclone Winston devastated Fiji, knocking out power, killing dozens, and destroying entire villages. This prompted Vishal Prasad and other Pacific Islanders to take action against climate change.

What did the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rule in 2025?

The ICJ delivered a landmark advisory opinion stating that access to a "clean, healthy and sustainable environment" is a human right, and that countries failing to protect people from climate change could be in violation of international law.

Home / Environment / Pacific Islanders Secure Landmark Climate Ruling at UN's Highest Court

Pacific Islanders Secure Landmark Climate Ruling at UN's Highest Court

9 Oct

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Summary

Cyclones devastate Fiji, prompting climate action
Pacific students take fight against climate change to UN court
ICJ rules access to clean environment is a human right

Pacific Islanders Secure Landmark Climate Ruling at UN's Highest Court

Credits: Leon Neal/Getty Images

In 2016, Cyclone Winston struck Fiji with shocking ferocity, knocking out power, killing dozens, and destroying entire villages. Just six weeks later, another massive tropical cyclone, Zena, made landfall. For Vishal Prasad and other Pacific Islanders, this became the new normal.

Determined to fight back, Prasad and a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific in Vanuatu planned to take their case against climate change to the United Nations' highest court. In July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a landmark advisory opinion, ruling that access to a "clean, healthy and sustainable environment" is a human right. The court also stated that countries failing to protect people from climate change could be in violation of international law.