BY OLATUNBOSUN ISMAILA AJIBOLA
A group of United Nations experts has called on member states to support a proposed resolution before the United Nations General Assembly aimed at affirming countries’ legal obligations to address climate change and comply with international environmental commitments.
The appeal follows the advisory opinion issued last year by the International Court of Justice, which emphasized that states have binding legal responsibilities to mitigate climate change and prevent environmental harm that could threaten societies and human life.
According to the experts, supporting the resolution would reinforce international cooperation and ensure that governments adhere to existing legal frameworks designed to limit climate change and its devastating global consequences.
They warned that global efforts to control rising temperatures are becoming increasingly urgent as scientific studies suggest that the internationally agreed limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels could be exceeded as early as 2029.
The experts noted that the threat is already evident through frequent climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and other extreme weather events affecting many parts of the world.
They stressed that the proposed resolution is grounded in the legal reasoning of the ICJ advisory opinion, which relies on internationally binding legal principles intended to prevent environmental damage and protect human populations from climate-related risks.
In addition, the experts explained that the draft resolution would encourage countries to work collectively to fulfill their obligations under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
These commitments include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, limiting global warming to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius, strengthening climate adaptation strategies, and mobilizing financial resources to support climate action.
They also highlighted that the resolution would complement the global Loss and Damage Fund created under the Paris Agreement framework to assist vulnerable developing countries struggling with the costs of destruction caused by climate-related disasters.
Such funding mechanisms are particularly important for nations that experience the most severe climate impacts despite contributing relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the experts expressed concern about attempts by some actors to delay or obstruct discussion of the resolution within the United Nations system.
They emphasized that rather than resisting the proposal, governments should see it as an opportunity to strengthen international collaboration and reinforce collective action against the climate crisis.
The proposed resolution was introduced by the government of Vanuatu in February 2026 with the objective of endorsing the ICJ’s advisory opinion regarding states’ responsibilities in tackling climate change.
Currently under negotiation, the resolution outlines several key measures that countries would be encouraged to adopt as part of their climate commitments.
These include submitting nationally determined contributions that align with global emission reduction targets, gradually phasing out reliance on fossil fuels, and establishing systems to document losses and damages caused by climate change.
The creation of such records could provide an opportunity for affected countries, particularly developing nations and communities hosting indigenous populations, to pursue compensation for environmental destruction linked to global warming.
The debate surrounding the resolution comes at a time when some governments and institutions appear to be retreating from previously established environmental commitments.
Observers point to policy developments such as regulatory changes within the European Union that reduce certain environmental compliance requirements for businesses, as well as the decision by the United States to withdraw from international climate agreements.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations including Amnesty International have warned that climate change continues to widen global inequalities, as poorer countries face increasingly severe disasters while lacking the resources to recover.
Recent climate-related catastrophes in countries such as Mozambique have displaced thousands of people and destroyed vital infrastructure, highlighting the growing human cost of global warming.
UN experts concluded that adopting the proposed General Assembly resolution would help strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote the protection of the fundamental right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
They stressed that such collective action is necessary to safeguard human rights, global stability, and the wellbeing of both current and future generations.