The small archipelago of Vanuatu, with just 320,000 inhabitants, managed to get the UN General Assembly to approve an ambitious climate resolution with 141 votes in favor, despite opposition from the United States under the Donald Trump administration and petro-states like Saudi Arabia.
The text urges the abandonment of fossil fuels and opens the possibility of compensations to the countries most affected by global warming.
The path from the International Court of Justice
The initiative originated from a pronouncement by the International Court of Justice in July 2025, when judges concluded that not combating climate change constitutes a violation of international law. Although non-binding, that ruling opened the door for other courts to demand accountability from polluting countries and companies.
Vanuatu brought the case to the General Assembly, where it drafted a text for the UN to officially recognize the ICJ’s ruling.
Negotiations and diplomatic pressures
The first draft included the creation of an international registry of climate damages and a reparations mechanism, but it was trimmed following pressure from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Even so, the final text maintains clear references to the need to abandon fossil fuels and eliminate billion-dollar subsidies for coal, gas, and oil.
The resolution had 75 co-sponsors, including Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Colombia, and Mexico. The European Union defended the text against last-minute amendments pushed by petro-states.
Voting and results
The resolution was approved with 141 votes in favor, 28 abstentions, and 8 votes against (including Israel, Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Iran). As it did not require consensus, a simple majority was enough, allowing it to overcome the usual vetoes at climate summits.
The text states that inaction on climate change can have “legal consequences”, such as the obligation to compensate affected states through restitution, indemnification, or satisfaction. Although non-binding, the resolution calls on the UN Secretary-General to present a report in 2027 on how to promote compliance with these obligations.
Beyond its practical scope, the approval has strong symbolic value: it reinforces climate justice and international cooperation in a context of multilateralism crisis.
International reactions
- Greenpeace celebrated the “overwhelming support” for the resolution and reminded that “climate action is an irrefutable legal obligation.”
- Amnesty International highlighted that the text opens a new path for international cooperation at a time of global fragmentation.
- Experts in climate litigation consider the resolution a further step towards the possibility of demanding legal accountability from polluting countries and companies.
Trump and climate denialism
The President of the United States reiterated his opposition, questioning the scientific scenarios on global warming and defending the use of fossil energies. His stance contrasts with the advance of renewables, which have prevented the most pessimistic scenario of a 5°C increase by the end of the century from being realized.
The resolution led by Vanuatu demonstrates how a small island state can challenge the great powers and pave the way for climate justice. Although non-binding, the text approved by the UN sets a historic precedent by recognizing that inaction on climate change can generate legal responsibilities and compensations.
