Amnesty International has urged governments to use the upcoming UN General Assembly resolution to transform the International Court of Justice’s 2025 Advisory Opinion on states’ obligations regarding climate change into concrete and enforceable action. Informal consultations on the draft resolution, circulated by Vanuatu, began in February 2026, with a vote expected at the end of March, marking three years since the General Assembly first requested the ICJ’s opinion. Candy Ofime, Amnesty International’s Climate Justice Researcher and Legal Advisor, noted that the resolution seeks to translate the ICJ’s legal interpretation into practical accountability measures, a move that could face resistance from high-income, high-emitting countries concerned about historical responsibility and financial liability.
The draft resolution fully endorses the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion and urges states to comply with the clarified legal obligations. These include adopting national climate action plans to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5°C, taking effective steps to cut emissions such as ending fossil fuel subsidies, respecting the rights of climate-displaced persons through safe and non-discriminatory pathways, and providing reparations for harm caused by violations of climate obligations. Ofime emphasized that the ICJ affirmed the interdependence of human rights and environmental protection, and warned that recent political actions, such as the U.S. revocation of the greenhouse gas “endangerment finding,” threaten global climate progress.
Amnesty International stressed the urgency for states, particularly those most responsible for emissions, to lead in phasing out fossil fuels, supporting just transitions, protecting frontline communities, and financing recovery from climate-related losses. Failure to act, the organization warned, could exacerbate climate impacts including sea-level rise, extreme weather, food insecurity, and water shortages. Ofime described the resolution as a critical moment for governments to demonstrate commitment to climate justice, legal accountability, and moral responsibility.
The draft resolution is currently under informal consultation at the UN General Assembly in New York, with revised drafts expected in early March. Amnesty International will continue providing analysis and commentary as the process evolves, urging governments to maintain the strength of the resolution and avoid weakening this landmark opportunity for global climate action.
