UN General Assembly adopts climate‑obligation resolution, US votes against

The United Nations General Assembly voted 141‑8 to adopt a resolution that backs a July 2025 International Court of Justice advisory opinion stating that nations have a legal duty to curb fossil‑fuel use and combat global warming. The resolution was tabled by Pacific island nation Vanuatu and received strong support from China and the vast majority of member states. The United States voted against the text together with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Liberia and Belarus; Turkey, India, Qatar and Nigeria abstained.

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres said the vote shows that governments must protect their citizens from the “escalating climate crisis”. While the ICJ opinion is not legally binding, it is increasingly cited in climate lawsuits worldwide, especially by vulnerable island states such as Tuvalu that face sea‑level rise and climate‑driven displacement.