The United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of a resolution urging the International Court of Justice to define the obligations of countries in combating climate change, following a four-year campaign led by the Republic of Vanuatu. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated, "It will help the General Assembly, the UN, and member states to take stronger and bolder climate action that our world desperately needs."
Vanuatu's Prime Minister Ismail Kalsakau emphasized, "It will have a strong and positive impact on how we deal with climate change and protect current and future generations."
It may take the court about 18 months to issue an advisory opinion that could clarify the financial obligations on countries regarding climate change, assisting them in reviewing and improving their national climate plans.
A senior official in President Joe Biden's administration believed that "diplomacy, not an international judicial process, is the most effective way to move forward in advancing global efforts to address the climate crisis." Bangladesh's Foreign Minister described the passage of the resolution as a "critical moment" that could help bridge the gap between climate financing promises made to vulnerable countries and what is actually being delivered.
