United Nations — The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to support strong action to prevent climate change despite recent diplomatic efforts by the United States to withdraw the measure.
The 193-member global organization approved a non-binding resolution endorsing the resolution Historical fatwa By the UN Supreme Court last July, which described the failure of countries to protect the planet from climate change as a violation of international law. The vote was by 141 votes to 8, with 28 abstentions.
The United States, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia – among the largest oil producers and largest emitters of greenhouse gases – have opposed the measure.
The text included the adoption of a national climate action plan to limit the rise in global temperature to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The gradual elimination of subsidies for fossil fuel exploration, production and exploitation; He urged violators to provide “full compensation” for the damage.
The decision had initially included stronger language than the ICJ opinion calling for the establishment of an “international registry of damages” to record evidence and claims, but it was removed after nearly a dozen consultations in order to gain more support.
The adoption came though Associated Press report In February, the Trump administration was urging other countries to pressure the small island nation of Vanuatu — the original sponsor of the project — to withdraw it from consideration.
In guidance issued to all US embassies and consulates, the State Department said it “strongly objects” to the proposal and that its adoption “may pose a significant threat to US industry.”
On Wednesday, Tammy Bruce, the US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, criticized the measure again, calling it “deeply problematic” and asserting that Washington had serious legal and political concerns despite the changes in the draft.
“The resolution includes inappropriate political demands related to fossil fuels and other climate issues,” Bruce told the assembly before the vote.
But representatives from Vanuatu and other island nations, who Fear for their survival Because of the impact of climate change, he said it was important for the General Assembly to support the court’s opinion, which has been hailed as a turning point in international climate law.
“We must be honest with each other about why this is important,” Udo Tefe, Vanuatu’s ambassador to the United Nations, said before the vote. “It matters because the damage is real and it is already there, along our islands and coastlines, to communities facing drought and crop failure.”
He added: “The countries and peoples who bear the greatest burden are often the ones who have contributed least to the problem.”
The action taken by the global body comes after decades of frustration among Pacific countries watching their homelands disappear.
In Tuvalu, where the average altitude is just 2 meters (6.6 feet), more than a third of the population has applied for a climate migration visa to Australia. By 2100, it is expected that most parts of the country will be submerged at high tide. On Nauru, the government has begun selling passports to wealthy foreigners — offering visa-free access to dozens of countries — in an attempt to generate revenue for potential repatriation efforts.