UN member states urged to fulfil climate change obligations following Vanuatu draft resolution News
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UN member states urged to fulfil climate change obligations following Vanuatu draft resolution

Amnesty International on Friday urged governments to take robust action and fulfil their obligations regarding climate change under international law. The statement follows Vanuatu’s circulation of a draft resolution on the matter to all UN member states.

According to Amnesty, the draft resolution urges states to fulfil their obligations in regard to climate change, following the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2025. These include the adoption of nationally determined contributions of atmospheric carbon to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to well below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The draft resolution also calls on UN member states to phase out fossil fuels, and to protect communities subject to forced displacement induced by climate change. This is a question of particular concern to Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu.

The draft resolution would also create an “International Register of Damage,” providing a transparent record of loss and damage linked to climate change, as Climate Home News reports. This echoes the ICJ’s advisory opinion that injured states may claim compensation for the non-compliance of climate change obligations.

Negotiations regarding the draft resolution are now underway. The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on the draft resolution at the end of March. Candy Ofime, climate justice researcher at Amnesty International, said: “This is a vital moment for states to show they stand on the side of climate justice—not delay, weaken, or turn away from their legal obligations and moral duty.”

The Amnesty statement called governments out for weakening global action on climate, denouncing the recent rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and removal of greenhouse gas regulations by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The administration described the deregulation as “restoring the American Dream” by saving over USD 1.3 trillion, and making commutes and business operations more affordable for American citizens.

The Trump administration reportedly urged other governments to pressure Vanuatu to withdraw its draft resolution. According to Al Jazeera, a cable sent by the US Department of State indicated the administration’s “strong objection” to the draft resolution and described the ICJ opinion as “misguided claims of international legal obligations.” Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s environment minister, reposted Al Jazeera’s article on X (formerly Twitter).

Prompt government actions are urgently necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement goal. A November 2025 report predicted that even if governments realize their “highest possible ambition,” the global average temperature will still have peaked at 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels for 40 years before declining to 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

Previously, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution requesting the ICJ advisory opinion on states’ climate obligations, with over 130 countries sponsoring the resolution. In January of this year, a Dutch court ruled that the Netherlands has failed to fulfil its international obligations to mitigation and adaptation, requiring the state to formulate a more ambitious plan for residents on Bonaire.

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