The Government of Grenada, represented by His Excellency Raphael Joseph, Ambassador of Grenada to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission of Grenada to the European Union, submitted a groundbreaking written statement to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

The submission is pursuant to the request of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, through its Resolution 77/276 adopted by consensus on March 29, 2023, for an advisory opinion on the obligations of states with respect to climate change. Grenada’s submission underscores the country’s unwavering commitment to addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change at the national, regional, and global levels.

His Excellency Ambassador Raphael Joseph, commenting on the significance of Grenada’s submission, stated, “Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and Grenada is proud to take a proactive step in seeking legal clarity on the obligations of states.” Our submission to the ICJ reflects our dedication to advancing international cooperation and justice in combating climate change.”

This submission to the ICJ marks another important step in the process of addressing the issue of climate change, underscoring the urgent need for further legal clarity relative to climate change issues.

Grenada joined several other Caribbean countries, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia, who also submitted individual statements on that day to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy is pleased to have coordinated this very important submission following a successful write-shop also coordinated by the Ministry during the period February 15–16, 2024.