UN Votes To Support Strong Action On Climate Change, Including Reparations

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to support strong action to limit climate change, despite U.S. diplomatic efforts to withdraw the measure.

The 193-member world body passed a non-binding resolution approving this agreement. important advisory opinion A ruling by the UN supreme court last July that called the failure of countries to protect the planet from climate change a violation of international law.

“The world’s highest court has spoken. Today, the General Assembly responded,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his statement. “This is a powerful affirmation of international law, climate justice, science and the responsibility of states to protect people from the escalating climate crisis.”

The vote was 141-8, with 28 abstentions. The USA, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, which are among the countries that produce the most oil and emit greenhouse gases, opposed this measure. Climate change is mainly caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas.

The text calls for the adoption of a national climate action plan to limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit); phasing out subsidies for fossil fuel exploration, production and use; and call on violators to provide “full compensation” for damage.

Paris climate agreement in 2015 since pre-industrial times, or the mid-1800s, has set a goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, giving rise to the mantra: “1.5 to survive” But now scientists say even their best-case scenario still exceeds this signature temperature limit.

The UN resolution initially included stronger language calling for the creation of an “International Damages Register” to record evidence and allegations from the International Court of Justice, but was removed after nearly a dozen consultations to gain more support.

Adoption came despite this Associated Press report It was reported in February that the Trump administration was urging other countries to pressure the small island nation of Vanuatu, the bill’s original sponsor, to withdraw it from consideration.

In the guidance issued to all US embassies and consulates, the State Department said it “strongly opposes” the proposal and that accepting it “could pose a major threat to US industry.”

On Wednesday, U.S. deputy ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce again criticized the measure, calling it “deeply problematic” and arguing that Washington had serious legal and policy concerns despite changes to the draft.

“The resolution contains inappropriate political demands regarding fossil fuels and other climate issues,” Bruce told parliament before the vote.

However, representatives from Vanuatu and other island countries their fear of survival He said that due to the impact of climate change, it is important that the court opinion, which is described as a turning point in international climate law, be supported by the General Assembly.

“We have to be honest with each other about why this is important,” Vanuatu’s UN Ambassador Odo Tevi said before the vote. “This is important because the damage is real and is already here on our islands and coastlines for communities facing drought and failed harvests.”

“The states and people who bear the heaviest burdens are often the ones who contribute the least to the problem.”

The world’s action follows decades of frustration among Pacific nations as they watched their homelands disappear.

In Tuvalu, where the average altitude is just 2 meters (6.6 feet) above sea level, more than a third of the population applied for a climate migration visa to Australia, although only a limited number of people are accepted each year. By 2100, most of the country is expected to be under water.

In Nauru, the government has begun selling passports to wealthy foreigners to raise revenue for possible relocation efforts – offering visa-free access to dozens of countries.

U.N. Human Rights Watch Director Louis Charbonneau said Wednesday that by endorsing the court ruling, the U.N. “reaffirmed the global commitment to protecting human rights.” This, he noted, comes “despite efforts by the United States and other oil-producing states to suppress initiatives to combat climate change.”