UN experts urged member states on Thursday to support the General Assembly (UNGA) resolution endorsing the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion, which mandates states to comply with their international legal obligations to mitigate climate change, amid concerns of attempts to obstruct discussion of the proposal.
The experts emphasized the urgent need to support the UNGA draft resolution, noting that studies indicate that the 1.5°C limit on global temperature rise could be exceeded by 2029. The risk is compounded by recurrent climate-related disasters, including cyclones, hurricanes, and floods, affecting multiple regions worldwide. The experts stressed that the resolution is grounded in the ICJ advisory opinion, which itself is based on internationally binding sources of law aimed at preventing further climate harm and impacts of climate change on societies and human lives.
Furthermore, they highlighted that the draft resolution would provide a collaborative approach for states to fulfil their obligations in alignment with the Paris Agreement, specifically limiting global warming to well below 1.5°C, peaking greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing climate change adaptation, and mobilizing climate finance. They added that the resolution would complement the Paris Agreement Loss and Damage Fund, which is a specialized fund established to assist vulnerable developing nations in covering the costs of destruction caused by climate-related disasters.
However, the experts expressed concerns about attempts to block the resolution’s adoption, emphasizing that countries should see it as an opportunity for international cooperation to address the climate crisis. Finally, they concluded that the UNGA resolution would pave the way for multilateral action to protect the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, thereby ensuring peace and the enjoyment of all human rights for current and future generations.
The government of Vanuatu introduced the UNGA draft resolution in February 2026 to endorse the ICJ’s advisory opinion on states’ obligations regarding climate change. It is currently under negotiation and proposes several measures, including adopting nationally determined contributions to atmospheric carbon levels consistent with the Paris Agreement, phasing out fossil fuels, and creating a record of loss and damage linked to climate change. This last measure represents a significant opportunity for affected countries to claim compensation for environmental damages, particularly developing countries hosting indigenous communities that are most impacted by climate change effects.
The UNGA resolution comes amid a global rollback of states’ obligations to prevent environmental damage, including the European Union’s Omnibus I package, which removes businesses’ obligations to conduct environmental and human rights due diligence, as well as the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change continue to worsen for countries that contribute least to it. Earlier this month, Amnesty International warned of widening global inequalities in climate responsibility following repeated climate disasters that struck Mozambique, displacing thousands and destroying infrastructure.
