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NASSAU, The Bahamas – On July 30, 2025, Prime Minister Philip Davis spoke to Parliament about a recent climate decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He said the world stopped to listen on July 23, when the court made a clear and powerful statement.
“For the first time in a long time,” he said, “the world heard what we’ve been asking for. No matter who we are, we can agree that The Bahamas has a basic right to survive, to be safe, and to raise our children without fear of storms and floods destroying our homes.”
He stressed that this right is not just emotional – it’s legal. The court confirmed that countries have legal duties to protect the environment. Failing to reduce pollution or help victims of climate damage breaks international law.
Davis said the court’s decision is based not just on science or morality, but on decades of legal agreements. It recognizes that the harm to small island nations is real and unfair.
He reminded Parliament that The Bahamas is made up of low-lying islands, easily damaged by climate change. Floods, rising seas, and hurricanes not only damage the land, but also shake people’s belief that the islands will still be here for future generations.
In the past decade, The Bahamas has been hit by four major hurricanes. Each one caused massive damage. The cost of rebuilding after these storms has pushed the country into more debt. At least 40% of the national debt is due to hurricane losses. That debt leads to higher interest rates and insurance costs, all because of the risk of future storms.
“We are still paying for past storms – and we’re also paying for the ones that haven’t happened yet,” he said.
That’s why Davis and his team have been pushing for fair climate finance. They want to escape the “climate debt trap” and use their money to build a better future.
He praised Attorney General Ryan Pinder and Ambassador Cheryl Bazard for presenting strong arguments to the court. He said they spoke clearly and powerfully about The Bahamas’ experience.
Davis admitted the ruling is not legally binding, but he said it still has great influence. It brings together all environmental laws and gives countries like The Bahamas a strong legal base to make their case.
The court said climate change affects human rights like life, housing, health, and culture. Those who caused the problem should help fix it. “We’re not asking for favours,” Davis said. “We just want fairness and for the law to be followed.”
The decision, he said, changes how the world should talk about climate change. Helping small countries is no longer just charity – it’s a legal duty. He said countries like The Bahamas have the right to exist, and that right is no longer negotiable.
“We didn’t cause this problem,” Davis said, “but we are suffering the results – rising seas, damaged reefs, and ruined infrastructure.”
He said the ruling must guide both foreign and domestic policy. The Bahamas must continue building climate defences and switching to greener systems – not out of guilt, but to survive and lead by example.
He ended by saying that some will claim nothing has changed. But he disagreed. “A truth once whispered has now been said in the world’s highest court,” he said. “We have a right to survive. That’s not just words anymore – that’s now law.”
He called on Parliament and the people to act, not out of anger, but with purpose and justice. “Let us listen to the law,” he said, “and act on it – so our children will know we did the right thing.”
Source: Bahamas Government Information Service.
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