CAN welcomes UNGA Vote on the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change
20 May 2026
Today’s positive outcome on the UN General Assembly vote regarding the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change is an important political signal that governments are prepared to respond to the legal clarity provided by the world’s highest court.
In response, Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International, said: “Without doubt, this vote is an important and historic political signal that governments are prepared to respond to the legal clarity that the ICJAO provided. It also means that major emitters, and particularly historic emitters, can no longer ignore the world’s highest court when it comes to the harms caused by climate change.
The challenge now is transforming legal obligations into real action consistent with Equity, Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities, and the protection of human rights.
This is also about strengthening international cooperation, confronting breaches of obligations, and advancing meaningful remedies for the communities already bearing the heaviest costs of a crisis they did the least to cause.
The real test starts now – and CAN will be watching whether this political commitment translates into the action the law demands.”
Climate Action Network welcomed the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion last year as a landmark clarification of states’ legal obligations to prevent climate harm and protect human rights in the face of the climate crisis. That the world’s highest court spoke with one voice left little room for political evasion about what international law requires.
Notes to editors
- UN Press release: General Assembly backs historic World Court climate crisis ruling
- On July 23rd 2025, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark unanimous advisory opinion clarifying States’ obligations under international law on climate change.
- On May 5th 2022, a global alliance of civil society groups, representing over 1500 civil society organisations in 130 countries, was launched today to support a powerful new climate justice initiative by the Government of Vanuatu to take the human rights impacts of climate change to the world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice.
Contact: media@climatenetwork.org