UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution on Climate Obligations

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution that welcomes an advisory opinion issued last summer by the International Court of Justice and calls on states to comply with their climate obligations. The opinion stated that failure to meet climate commitments is unlawful and may require full reparation to injured states.

5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, including transitioning away from fossil fuels.

The measure passed by a vote of 141 to eight.

The United States, Russia, and Iran were among the countries that opposed the resolution. Washington's representative, Tammy Bruce, said the resolution includes inappropriate political demands relating to fossil fuels and other climate topics. Oil-producing countries Saudi Arabia and Kuwait proposed amendments that removed some references to the ICJ opinion as a guiding framework.

Vanuatu's ambassador to the UN, Odo Tevi, said the states and peoples bearing the heaviest burden are very often those who contributed least to the problem. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the leadership of island nations and young people in bringing the resolution forward.

Vishal Prasad, director at Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, said communities on the frontlines have been waiting far too long and continue to pay too high a price for the actions of others. The resolution does not create an International Register of Damage to compile evidence of climate-related loss or injury.