Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), said, it makes clear the responsibility of Member States to protect their own people from what he termed “escalating climate crisis”.
The resolution was created by Vanuatu, a Pacific Island country taking the front position of the climate crisis, alongside several other countries. It was adopted following heavy discussion encompassing numerous proposed amendments with 141 votes in favour, eight (8) against and twenty-eight (28) abstentions.
These countries voted against the resolution – Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States (US) and Yemen.
When the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations (UN) Principal Judicial Body, ruled in July 2025 that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the decision was extolled as an advancement.
In his reaction on X to the Climate Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly, Guterres said: “I welcome the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the @CIJ_ICJ’s advisory opinion on climate change – a powerful affirmation of international law, climate justice, science & the responsibility of states to protect people from the escalating climate crisis.
“Those least responsible for climate change are paying the highest price.
“That injustice must end.”
What the Resolution contains?
The Resolution calls on all Members States of the United Nations (UN) to make every possible move to prevent causing huge damage to the climate and environment, including emissions produced within their borders, as well as, to stick with their existing climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Legal Requirement
The ICJ also ruled that, if these obligations are breached by any State, they are responsible legally and perhaps legally required to cease the wrongful conduct, make guarantees that it will not occur again, and make full amends, depending on the circumstances.
ICJ’s legal advisory judgment may not be binding, they hold significant legal and moral authority which are helpful in clarifying and developing international law by defining legal obligations of States.
