Vanuatu’s climate envoy is resolutely advancing their UN resolution concerning the International Court of Justice’s climate opinion, amid significant pushback from the United States. The court’s 2025 opinion posited that the failure to protect individuals from the impacts of climate change could breach international law.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the U.S. State Department has communicated to its diplomatic missions that it strongly opposes the resolution currently under discussion at the General Assembly, arguing that its passage “could pose a major threat to U.S. industry.” The cable indicated that there is further apprehension about the broader implications of actions taken by the UN and various countries against what they term “exaggerated” climate threats.
Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s climate envoy, expressed his commitment to the process despite the U.S. objections. He emphasized, “The U.S. has made that statement when it received the text of the resolution. We are continuing with the normal process and we very much hope that they will engage in this normal multilateral process.” Regenvanu noted the need for inclusive consultation to allow all nations to contribute to the drafting of the resolution.
Reflecting on the U.S. resistance, Regenvanu remarked that it felt reminiscent of previous instances, particularly highlighting a similar scenario during the International Maritime Organisation’s vote on a greenhouse gas levy for international shipping, which experienced delays due to U.S. lobbying against it. He pointed out that despite earlier strong support for the levy, U.S. diplomatic efforts had effectively stifled progress.
The draft UN resolution is slated for consideration by the UN General Assembly next month. As Regenvanu has previously stated, the aim of the resolution is to ensure that the findings of the ICJ are not merely theoretical but evolve into actionable obligations. He stressed the importance of this resolution to ensure that countries opposing it do not stymie its progression in critical arenas such as UN climate negotiations, which depend on consensus for decision-making.
As Vanuatu pushes forward, there remains a hopeful possibility that collaborative international dialogue can bridge the gap between differing positions, fostering a united front in the global fight against climate change.
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