By Nancy Price, Earth Democracy Committee
World’s Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ) led a years-long global campaign to take climate justice and human rights to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to get an advisory opinion (AO)—and with success!
On May 20, after months of intense campaigning by civil society and Vanuatu, States took an important step by adopting a resolution welcoming and operationalizing the ICJ’s climate change advisory opinion, marking the start of its implementation phase.
This is a landmark moment for climate justice. The U.N. has today not only welcomed the validation of the ICJ ruling, which found States obligated to combat climate change, but has also committed to taking real action. Let’s put the ICJ’s findings into practice.
The UN General Assembly: The Vote for Climate Justice
On July 23, 2025, the ICJ delivered to the U.N. General Assembly its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect to Climate Change, including specific points described in the Earth Democracy Committee’s recent article, “WILPF’s Earth Day Call: Collective Power for Climate Justice.”
On Feb. 6, 2026, Vanuatu introduced a draft resolution to the U.N. General Assembly endorsing the ICJ Advisory Opinion.
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change of Vanuatu, emphasized, “In the current geopolitical context, sustained commitment to the rule of law is more important than ever … Climate change is no exception, and upholding the Court’s clarification of existing obligations is essential for the credibility of the international system and for effective collective action.”
Although the ICJ’s advisory opinions are not binding, they carry significant legal and moral authority, helping to clarify and advance international law by defining States’ legal obligations. The resolution emphasizes operationalizing the ICJ’s findings, ensuring legal clarity, and building pathways to strengthen multilateral cooperation and responsibility, based on four core principles: endorsing the Court’s findings, strengthening climate obligations, putting the opinion into practice, and advancing implementation and accountability.
Before the General Assembly vote, Ralph Regenvanu continued, “We call upon all States to support the international rule of law by co-sponsoring and voting in favor of the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly … Right now, States are discussing the final resolution text and contemplating co-sponsoring, which means now is a crucial phase to ensure enough support for a strong resolution that fully endorses the ICJ climate change advisory opinion.”
On May 20, the vote was: 141 in favor, 8 against—including Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Yemen—and 28 abstentions by States from diverse regions, cultures, and political ideologies.
Following the vote, Secretary-General António Guterres spoke:
“I welcome today’s adoption of the General Assembly resolution following up on the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change.
“The world’s highest court has spoken. Today, the General Assembly has answered.
“This is a powerful affirmation of international law, climate justice, science, and the responsibility of States to protect people from the escalating climate crisis.
“I commend the leadership of Pacific Island countries and other small island developing States—together with the young people whose moral clarity helped bring the world to this moment.
“Those least responsible for climate change are paying the highest price. That injustice must end.
“The science is clear: fossil fuels are the principal driver of the climate crisis. The path to climate justice runs through a rapid, just, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.
Renewables proved to be the cheapest and the most secure form of energy supply.
The task ahead is clear—keep 1.5°C within reach and build a safer, fairer and more resilient future for all.”
A May 20 press release from Climate Rights International expressed concerns that opponents weakened the follow-up mechanisms established in the resolution by limiting the independence and institutional capacity of the Secretary-General to assess whether States are meeting the obligations identified by the Court.
It was emphasized that the Court made it unmistakably clear that States have binding obligations under international law to protect the climate and the rights of present and future generations. Furthermore, the resolution adopted today reflects continued resistance by major greenhouse gas-emitting States and the powerful fossil-fuel industry to any process that advances compensation, accountability, and justice. This position was presented on May 20 by Saudi Arabia and the United States, two of the eight States that voted against the resolution.
Save the Children’s Matilde Angeltveit, Senior Advisor and Global Climate Advocacy Lead, called on member States to support the adoption of the resolution as a powerful signal to the world and a promise to our children that world leaders are listening to young people and are committed to advancing intergenerational justice and equity.
