Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

United Nations adopts landmark resolution for global climate justice

United Nations adopts landmark resolution for global climate justice

Members of the United Nations General Assembly have adopted a historic resolution that advances the climate justice cause by calling for the UN’s top court to lay out states’ obligations to fight climate change and reduce global warming.

Vanuatu, a small archipelago whose future is threatened by rising sea levels, has been pushing for the resolution, which asks the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion laying out countries’ obligations for protecting the climate, and the legal consequences they face if they fail to do so.

"Today we have witnessed a win for climate justice of epic proportions," said Vanuatu Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau after the vote.

Although no country objected to the resolution's consensus adoption, the United States and China, the world's two largest carbon emitters, were not among the 130 co-sponsors.

The resolution asks the ICJ to clarify "legal consequences" for states that "have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment."

It specifically asks the court to weigh obligations to "small island developing states," which are "particularly vulnerable" to climate change, as well as obligations to future generations.



Impact of ICJ decisions


It could take the ICJ up to two years to issue an opinion. And while the court's opinions are not binding, they carry significant legal and moral weight, and are often taken into account by national courts.

An ICJ opinion "would assist the General Assembly, the UN and member states to take the bolder and stronger climate action that our world so desperately needs," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

During negotiations on the Paris Agreement, US diplomats secured the addition of language specifying that the text "does not involve or provide a basis for any liability or compensation."

But the backers of the new resolution backers hope other instruments, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, could offer pathways for enforcement.

US representative Nicholas Hill said of Wednesday’s resolution that it “could complicate our collective efforts and will not bring us closer to achieving these shared goals" of reducing emissions, adding that he prefers diplomacy to "a judicial process".


Climate in court


The ICJ’s advisory opinion could be a vital input to a growing number of climate-driven lawsuits around the world – some 2,000 cases are pending worldwide.

On Wednesday the European Court of Human Rights opened its first ever cases against governments for alleged climate inaction. France and Switzerland are accused of failing to protect the environment.

Last week the UN's IPCC panel of climate experts warned that global average temperatures could reach 1.5 degrees Celcius above pre-industrial levels by 2030-2035 unless emissions are halved by 2030, underlining the need for drastic action this decade.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk's AfD Endorsement Ignites Controversy from neo-Nazis who accuse the AfD of being what they themselves are
Chinese startup AGIBOT has started large-scale manufacturing of versatile humanoid robots.
EU Orders Apple to Open Up: A Bold Move Against Corporate Monopolies
Trump Recognizes Some Advancement in Ceasefire Initiatives for Ukraine Conflict
Tragic Loss in the Montserrat Mountains: Mango Founder Isak Andic Passes Away in Hiking Accident
Hungary's Balancing Act: Boosting Influence While Managing Economic Stability and Political Controversies
Failing the Test of Leadership: Netanyahu's Security Missteps
Pope Francis' Call for Compassion: Balancing Humanitarian Needs with Socio-Economic Realities
Pozitív Fordulatok és Új Lehetőségek: Oktatás, Gasztronómia és Sport Magyarországon
Magyarország szerepe az uniós szankciók kérdésében: Az energetikai stabilitás és az EU egységének egyensúlya
Romanian Authorities Thwart Armed Mercenary Plot, Drawing Parallels to U.S. Capitol Riot
Strategic Explosions: The Volatile Intersection of Guerrilla Tactics and Geopolitics in Ukraine
Austria's Dilemma: Repatriation of Syrian Refugees Amidst Fragile Peace
The Rising Tide of Aridity: Unmasking a Global Threat
Polarization: The Word That Unites a Divided Era
The TikTok Conundrum: A Battle for Free Speech and Innovation
A Test of Balance: Self-Defense and Judicial Equity in Germany
The Compass of Time: Unraveling the 2024 Person of the Year
Swift's Epoch: Revolutionizing Concert History with the Eras Tour
Storm Darragh Ravages the UK: A Pre-Christmas Tempest of Destruction
Enduring Peace or Strategic Uncertainty: Zelensky's Bold Plea Amidst Ukraine's Woes
Notre-Dame Rises Again: A Symbol of Resilience Amidst Turbulent Times
UAE Invests in Quantum Leap: A Bold Move Towards a Trillion-Dollar Future
Dutch Parliament's Controversial Motion Ignites Nationwide Protests
Integration or Intrusion? The Dutch Debate Over Migration Data
Bananas and Cocaine: The Unseen Paths of a Global Epidemic
The Surveillance Mirage: When Millions of Cameras Fail to Deliver Justice
Navigating the Digital Storm: Taylor Swift's Diplomatic Dance in Celebrity Showdowns
Justice Denied: Outrage in Germany as Legal System Fails Rape Victim
Storm Darragh's Menace: UK Prepares with Rare Emergency Alert
Guardians of Safety: Balancing Security and Freedom in Modern Europe
Germany Averts Christmas Market Terror Attack Amid European Political Turmoil
The European Energy Conundrum: Navigating Dependency and Independence
France at a Crossroads: Navigating Political Tumult and Economic Divergence
Britain Leads Charge in AI Safety Amid Global Challenges
A Conflict Beyond Borders: Navigating the Complexities of Israel and Gaza
Georgia's EU Saga: Aspirations, Challenges, and a Nation Divided
Macron's Gamble: Navigating France's Political Tempest
Macron Faces Political Upheaval Amidst France's Government Collapse
Addressing the Human Toll: Europe's Struggle Against Human Trafficking
Georgia's Democratic Challenge: Balancing Between Europe and Sovereignty
Major Events Unfold Worldwide: From New York Tragedy to Californian Quake Relief
A Name’s Ascent: Muhammad Tops Baby Name Charts in England and Wales
Nepal Embraces China's Belt and Road Initiative: A New Geopolitical Battleground?
Georgia's Political Turmoil: A Nation Divided Amid Opposition Crackdowns
Bitcoin's Historic Leap: A New Era or Just Another Bubble?
Nissan’s Challenge: Preserving a Legacy in the Age of Electric Vehicles
South Korea's Democracy Tested: President Yoon’s Martial Law Reversal Sparks Political Reckoning
China Restricts Export of Key Minerals to the US Amid Trade Tensions
Seoul in Crisis: Yoon Suk Yeol's Martial Law Blunder Triggers Political Upheaval
×