Law Report Is Australia fulfilling its legal duty to act on climate change? And High Court orders return of Bolivian artefact
Sep 23, 2025
Vishal Prasad, Campaign Director for Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, discusses the implications of the recent ICJ advisory opinion on climate change and Australia's climate action efforts. He critiques Australia’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution and emphasizes the need for stronger commitments. Donna Yates, a criminologist and expert in trafficked cultural objects, dives into the High Court's ruling on the return of a Bolivian Tiwanaku artefact, shedding light on its provenance and the impacts of the antiquities trade.
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Australia's NDC Misses 1.5°C Alignment
- Australia’s new 62–70% 2035 NDC is welcomed as a step up but fails to align with the 1.5°C goal.
- Vishal Prasad says the ICJ made clear NDCs must be compatible with 1.5°C and Australia falls short.
Revise NDCs And Halt Fossil Approvals
- Revise NDCs now to meet international obligations and keep 1.5°C alive ahead of COP negotiations.
- Stop approving fossil fuel expansions because such approvals contradict obligations and may be internationally wrongful acts.
UN Follow-Up Can Build Compliance Pressure
- Follow-up UN mechanisms and reporting can build pressure and accountability for implementing the ICJ advisory opinion.
- Vishal Prasad sees such measures as adding momentum for compliance with international law.