Climate justice

The United Nations voted unanimously to adopt a resolution led by Vanuatu to ask the ICJ for an advisory opinion on states’ climate change obligations.

The resolution tabled by Vanuatu and a core group of 17 countries, aims to clarify what the obligations of states are in protecting the rights of current and future generations from the adverse effects of climate change.

“This decision has the potential to change the landscape,” Climate Minister James Shaw said in a statement.

The resolution was adopted by consensus.

“Today we have witnessed a win for climate justice of epic proportions,” said Ishmael Kalsakau, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, in a video statement responding to the adoption of the resolution.

“Vanuatu sees today’s historic resolution as the beginning of a new era in multilateral climate cooperation, one that is more fully focused on upholding the rule of international law and an era that places human rights and intergenerational equity at the forefront of climate decision-making.”

This has occurred in a year that has also seen record levels of CO2 and the planet’s hottest ever year.