The resolution, prepared by Vanuatu and several other countries, was adopted with 141 in favour, 8 against and 28 abstentions. Those voting against were Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Yemen.
A landmark General Assembly resolution is “a powerful affirmation” of international law, climate justice and science, according to UN chief António Guterres.
When the International Court of Justice, the UN’s principal judicial body, ruled in July 2025 that States have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions, the decision was hailed as a breakthrough. The UN chief described it simply as “a victory for our planet”.
Wednesday’s General Assembly adoption following up on the ruling, sends a strong message that tackling the climate crisis is a legal duty under international law, and not just a political choice. “The world’s highest court has spoken,” responded Mr. Guterres. “Today, the General Assembly has answered.”
What’s in the resolution?
- The resolution calls on all UN Member States to take all possible steps to avoid causing significant damage to the climate and environment, including emissions produced within their borders, and to follow through on their existing climate pledges under the Paris Agreement
- Governments are urged to cooperate in good faith and continuously coordinate efforts to tackle climate change globally and ensure that climate policies safeguard the rights to life, health, and an adequate standard of living.
- In a statement released after the General Assembly vote, Mr. Guterres declared that those least responsible for climate change are paying the highest price, and that the path to climate justice “runs through a rapid, just, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.”
- The UN Secretary-General noted that renewables have proved to be the cheapest and most secure form of energy and that the goal of keeping global temperature rises to no more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is still within reach.