In response to the United Nations General Assembly’s request for an advisory opinion on the obligations of states regarding climate change, Bolivia presented its oral statement to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This followed the submission of its written declaration in March of 2024.
The Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Roberto Calzadilla Sarmiento, speaking on behalf of Bolivia, stated: “The structural causes of climate change stem from the capitalist development model of the last two centuries—a system that has violated fundamental human rights, disrupted the life cycles of Mother Earth, caused ecosystem collapse, and intensified global hunger and poverty.”
Bolivia highlighted the need to recognize the differentiated responsibilities of states, arguing that not all countries bear the same level of accountability for the climate crisis. It emphasized that developing countries that have contributed the least to it—are disproportionately affected by its impacts.
In this context, Bolivia urged the ICJ to acknowledge that the duty of cooperation requires fundamental changes in climate finance. These include simplifying access to climate-related funds, prioritizing grants over loans, establishing debt-free financing mechanisms, and ensuring that developed countries provide finance, technology transfer, and capacity building in line with their international obligations.
This statement served as a strong call to the international community to address the climate crisis through a lens of equity and climate justice.


