‘Landmark Moment for Climate Justice’: UN General Assembly Backs Historic World Court Climate Ruling

Detailed summary

The International Court of Justice, the world’s top court, ruled last year that government actions driving climate change are illegal and that states are required under…

The International Court of Justice, the world’s top court, ruled last year that government actions driving climate change are illegal and that states are required under international laws to reduce emissions, prevent harm, and collaborate to safeguard vulnerable populations.

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a long-sought resolution validating a landmark 2025 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.

The resolution, drawn up by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu and several other countries, was adopted with 141 votes in favour, eight against and 28 abstentions. The United States was among the countries voting against it, alongside petrostates Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iran as well as Yemen, Israel, Belarus, and Liberia.

The ICJ, the world’s top court, delivered a historic advisory opinion on countries’ legal responsibilities regarding climate change. It ruled that government actions driving climate change are illegal and that states are required under international laws to reduce emissions, prevent harm, and collaborate to safeguard vulnerable populations. It also stressed that these obligations encompass the full range of activities resulting in greenhouse gas emissions, from fossil fuel usage to extraction, subsidies and regulatory oversight.

The resolution endorses and seeks to operationalize the court’s opinion, reaffirming binding legal obligations for climate cooperation among states and calling on all UN member states to comply with their respective obligations under international law and to take all possible steps to avoid causing significant damage to the climate and environment, including through transboundary emissions.

In its ruling, the ICJ affirmed the 1.5C target to be the only relevant limit and recognized that the climate treaty establishes “stringent” mitigation obligations for states to protect the climate and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic…

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