Amnesty International on Feb. 13 urged governments to take robust action and fulfil their obligations regarding climate change under international law. The statement follows Vanuatu’s circulation of a draft resolution on the matter to all UN member states.
The draft resolution urges states to fulfil their obligations in regard to climate change, in line with the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024. These include the adoption of nationally determined contributions of atmospheric carbon to meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to well below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The draft resolution also calls on UN member states to phase out fossil fuels, and to protect communities subject to forced displacement induced by climate change. This is a question of particular concern to Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu.
The draft resolution would also create an “International Register of Damage,” providing a transparent record of loss and damage linked to climate change, as Climate Home Newsreports. This echoes the ICJ’s advisory opinion that injured states may claim compensation for the non-compliance of climate change obligations.
Negotiations regarding the draft resolution are now underway. The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on the draft resolution at the end of March. Candy Ofime, climate justice researcher at Amnesty International, said: “This is a vital moment for states to show they stand on the side of climate justice—not delay, weaken, or turn away from their legal obligations and moral duty.”
The Amnesty statement called governments out for weakening global action on climate, denouncing the recent rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and removal of greenhouse gas regulations by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The administration described the deregulation as “restoring the American Dream” by saving over $1.3 trillion, and making commutes and business operations more affordable for American citizens.
The Trump administration reportedly urged other governments to pressure Vanuatu to withdraw its draft resolution. According to Al Jazeera, a cable sent by the US Department of State indicated the administration’s “strong objection” to the draft resolution and described the ICJ opinion as “misguided claims of international legal obligations.” Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s environment minister, reposted Al Jazeera’s article on X (formerly Twitter).
Prompt government actions are urgently necessary to achieve the Paris Agreement goal. A November 2025 report predicted that even if governments realize their “highest possible ambition,” the global average temperature will still have peaked at 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels for 40 years before declining to 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
From JURIST, Feb. 14. Used with permission.
See our last reports on the UN climate process, and the World Court advisory opinion.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
