This year, World Environment Day takes on an even more important value: the United Nations General Assembly has just approved a resolution that recognizes the legal responsibility of States in the face of the ongoing environmental emergency.
The text - promoted by the small island of Vanuatu, in the Pacific Ocean, a territory that suffers serious environmental consequences due to rising sea levels - was approved with 141 votes in favour, 8 against (United States; Russia; Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; Yemen; Liberia and Belarus) and 28 abstentions.
The resolution ratifies and follows up on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - the main judicial body of the United Nations - expressed in July 2025, and establishes that the fight against the climate emergency is no longer an appeal or a moral duty, but a legal duty of States, established by international law.
New features introduced by the resolution
The new feature in the newly approved text lies in the explicit request to all 193 UN Member States to adopt all possible measures to avoid causing damage to the climate and the environment within their national borders.
The resolution is an important signal of the political will to tackle climate change: the countries that have approved it are effectively committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The document also reiterates that countries must follow up on their commitments under the Paris Agreement, which calls on nations to limit global warming to below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
Furthermore, the UN Secretary-General is requested to submit a report in 2027 on how to promote compliance with the obligations identified in the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.
Why the resolution was received with enthusiasm?
The climate crisis is before our eyes: estimates from the latest 2025 UNEP report reveal that it is very likely that the world will exceed the 1.5°C target within the next decade. Rapidly rising temperatures are disrupting delicate terrestrial ecosystems, causing a series of phenomena, from rising sea levels to extreme weather phenomena and increasingly frequent droughts.
For this reason, recognizing the responsibility of States in the fight against climate change is fundamental, just as a collaborative approach is necessary with businesses, institutions and citizens in coordinated and ambitious action. It's not just an environmental responsibility: protecting ecosystems also means protecting our lives and all the activities connected to it.
Furthermore, in a climate of instability and polarization at a geopolitical level - which directly affects our social and economic models - the resolution also represents a step in favor of multilateralism, which over the last year has been called into question by tense international relations.
Image source: Pexels
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