By Abbas Nazil
Amnesty International has called on governments worldwide to urgently fulfill their climate change obligations under international law following Vanuatu’s circulation of a draft resolution to all UN member states.
The zero draft resolution, shared by Vanuatu, emphasizes the need for states to implement measures consistent with the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024.
It urges countries to adopt nationally determined contributions aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature increases to well below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The draft resolution also calls for the phased elimination of fossil fuels and for measures to protect individuals displaced by climate-induced disasters.
A key feature of the resolution is the creation of an “International Register of Damage,” designed to transparently track loss and damage caused by climate change.
This register reflects the ICJ’s advisory opinion that affected states may seek compensation from non-compliant countries if harm and causation are proven.
Negotiations on the resolution are ongoing, with a vote expected at the UN General Assembly at the end of March.
Candy Ofime, a climate justice researcher at Amnesty International, described the moment as critical, stressing that states must not delay, weaken, or evade their legal and moral responsibilities.
The statement criticized governments that have recently rolled back climate regulations, citing the rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding and the removal of greenhouse gas rules by the Trump administration on February 12.
The administration justified the move as restoring economic opportunity for Americans, claiming savings of over USD 1.3 trillion and making commuting and business operations more affordable.
Reports indicate that the Trump administration also urged other countries to pressure Vanuatu to withdraw the draft resolution, labeling the ICJ’s opinion as “misguided claims of international legal obligations.”
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s environment minister, shared these developments publicly on X, formerly Twitter.
Prompt government action remains critical to achieving the Paris Agreement targets, with a November 2025 report projecting that even the highest ambitions would temporarily see global temperatures peak at 1.7°C above pre-industrial levels before declining to 1.2°C by 2100.
Previously, over 130 countries sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution requesting the ICJ advisory opinion on climate obligations, demonstrating widespread support.
In January 2026, a Dutch court ruled that the Netherlands had failed to meet its international obligations on mitigation and adaptation, requiring a more ambitious plan for residents of Bonaire.
The Vanuatu draft resolution represents a pivotal moment for global climate action, testing the willingness of nations to uphold both their legal duties and moral commitments in the face of escalating climate crises.
