The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution endorsing a landmark International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion that says countries have a legal obligation to address climate change.
The measure passed by a vote of 141-8, with 28 countries abstaining. Among those opposing the resolution were the United States, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, all major oil-producing nations and significant greenhouse gas emitters.
The resolution, introduced by Vanuatu, reaffirms the ICJ’s July 2025 advisory opinion, which stated that governments are obligated to reduce fossil fuel use and take action to combat global warming.
Although the court’s opinion is not legally binding, it has already begun influencing climate-related litigation around the world, with judges increasingly referencing it in legal decisions.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the vote, describing it as a significant endorsement of international law and climate justice.
Opposition From Major Emitters
The resolution faced opposition from a small group of countries, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Liberia and Belarus.
Several other nations, including India, Turkey, Qatar and Nigeria, abstained from the vote.
The United States argued that the resolution contained what it described as inappropriate political demands regarding fossil fuels. Washington also opposed provisions requiring the UN Secretary-General to report on legal issues related to the court’s findings.
The vote comes amid broader changes in U.S. climate policy under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement and other environmental accords while pursuing policies aimed at expanding fossil fuel production.
Reports earlier this year indicated that Washington had encouraged other governments to persuade Vanuatu to withdraw the resolution before it reached the General Assembly floor.
Growing Pressure on Vulnerable States
The resolution highlights concerns among low-lying Pacific island nations that face increasing threats from rising sea levels and extreme weather.
In Tuvalu, where the average elevation is about two meters above sea level, more than one-third of the population has applied for climate migration visas to Australia. Projections indicate that much of the country could be submerged at high tide by the end of the century.
Meanwhile, Nauru has launched a program selling passports to foreign nationals as part of efforts to generate funding for potential future relocation measures.
The vote also reflects growing international attention on climate accountability as countries continue efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, which set a target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Vishal Prasad, director of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, the campaign group that spearheaded the push for the ICJ opinion, said the General Assembly vote represented a commitment to turning the court’s findings into meaningful action.
