UN's climate crisis vote shows political momentum is growing, say experts

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a landmark climate crisis ruling, which Vanuatu’s prime minister described as the start of a new chapter in climate action. The ruling affirms that states have legal responsibilities to address climate breakdown by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, including tackling fossil fuels. Experts said this recognition could strengthen climate diplomacy and litigation. Vanuatu led negotiations on a new UN resolution to help translate legal clarity into practical outcomes. The resolution, co-sponsored by 90 countries, calls for a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels to reach net zero by 2050 and for phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or just transitions. It does not assign responsibility to specific states. The vote was 141 in favour, 28 abstentions, and 8 against, including major oil and gas producers.

"The task before all of us now is to translate legal clarity into meaningful action, stronger cooperation, and greater protection for present and future generations, said Jotham Napat. The recognition by states that they have a legal responsibility to address climate breakdown by cutting their greenhouse gas emissions, including tackling fossil fuels, could prove a boost for climate diplomacy and litigation, according to experts."

"To try to help it make a difference on the ground, Vanuatu led negotiations on a new UN resolution, a lengthy process that required numerous compromises. The final version, co-sponsored by 90 countries, urges states to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner to reach net zero by 2050, and to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or just transitions as soon as possible."

"But the resolution explicitly does not attribute responsibility to any particular state. Although the final resolution did not achieve the unanimity Vanuatu had sought, 141 countries voted in favour, with 28 abstentions. Eight states voted against it, including some of the world's biggest producers of oil and gas: the US, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Israel, Yemen and Liberia."

"While the international court of justice's (ICJ) 2025 advisory opinion was at the time hailed as a historic win for small island states particularly vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis, it has so far proved weak as a diplomatic lever. The advisory opinion has so far had more impact domestically than diplomatically."

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