Photo UN/M. Elias Meeting room of the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly supported the historic conclusion of the International Court of Justice on climate change Climate and Environment
The UN chief welcomed the adoption by the General Assembly of a resolution supporting the historic advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in relation to climate change. 141 states voted for the document, prepared by the Pacific island state of Vanuatu and a number of other countries, eight – Belarus, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the USA – voted against, 28 – abstained.
In the resolution, the General Assembly calls on all countries to comply with their obligations under international law—as defined by the Court—“to ensure the protection of the climate system and other components of the environment from man-made emissions of greenhouse gases.”
“The world’s highest court has spoken. Today, the General Assembly gave its response,” the Secretary General said, commenting on today’s vote.
The UN chief called the adoption of the resolution “recognition” of the responsibility of states to protect people from the “escalating climate crisis.”
“I express my gratitude to the leaders of the Pacific island countries and other small island developing states, as well as the youth, whose integrity has helped bring the world to this moment,” Guterres said.
“The scientific evidence is clear: fossil fuels are the root cause of the climate crisis,” he added.
According to the Secretary General, “the path to climate justice” lies through a transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources energy.
The UN chief called on the international community to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build a safer future for all.