In a decisive move that strengthens international climate law, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to endorse the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on states' legal obligations to protect the climate. The resolution, passed with 141 votes in favour, 8 against, and 28 abstentions, marks a significant step for climate justice despite intense lobbying by major fossil fuel producers to derail it.
The non-binding resolution reaffirms the ICJ's July 2024 ruling that failure to curb climate change constitutes a violation of international law. It calls on nations to adopt national climate action plans aligned with the 1.5°C target, phase out subsidies for fossil fuel exploration and production, and provide “full reparation” for climate-related damages. The text also establishes a process to monitor compliance with the court's opinion.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the vote as “a powerful affirmation of international law, climate justice, science, and the responsibility of states to protect people from the escalating climate crisis.” The resolution had initially included stronger language from the ICJ opinion, such as the creation of an “International Register of Damage” to document claims, but that provision was removed after consultations to secure broader support.
Opposition from Petrostates and the United States
The eight countries that voted against the measure include the United States, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—some of the world's largest oil producers and greenhouse gas emitters. The Trump administration had actively campaigned against the resolution, with the State Department issuing guidance to all US embassies urging them to press Vanuatu, the original sponsor, to withdraw the draft. Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce called the resolution “highly problematic,” arguing it contained “inappropriate political demands relating to fossil fuels.”
The vote comes amid broader European concerns about climate policy and investment. The EU has seen business investment hit an 11-year low, partly due to climate uncertainty and tariff pressures, as reported in EU Business Investment Hits 11-Year Low. Meanwhile, Spain has pioneered climate shelters to combat rising heat deaths, a model that could inspire other European nations.
Small Island Nations Lead the Charge
For Pacific island nations like Vanuatu, Tuvalu, and Nauru, the ruling is existential. Vanuatu's UN ambassador Odo Tevi told the assembly before the vote: “We should be honest with one another about why this matters. It matters because the harm is real and it is already here, along our islands and coastlines, for communities facing drought and failed harvests.” He added that “the states and peoples bearing the heaviest burden are very often those who contributed least to the problem.”
In Tuvalu, where the average elevation is just two metres above sea level, more than a third of the population has applied for climate migration visas to Australia, though only a limited number are accepted each year. By 2100, much of the country is projected to be underwater at high tide. Nauru has begun selling passports to wealthy foreigners to generate revenue for potential relocation.
Fenton Lutunatabua, Pacific and Caribbean Lead at climate campaign group 350.org, said the vote brings communities “closer to receiving justice for the suffering the fossil fuel industry has caused, and the havoc wreaked upon our shorelines as we pay with our lives and our pockets to rebuild after yet another cyclone, yet another flood.”
Human Rights Watch's UN director Louis Charbonneau noted that the endorsement came “despite efforts by the US and other oil-producing states to stifle attempts to combat climate change.” The ruling builds on decades of frustration for vulnerable nations, and its implementation will now be closely watched by climate advocates and legal experts across Europe and beyond.
