Vanuatu pushes new UN resolution demanding full climate compensation

Vanuatu is spearheading a new United Nations General Assembly resolution that demands full and prompt compensation from countries responsible for climate change. The draft resolution aims to implement last year’s landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which established that states have a legal duty to prevent climate harm and may be liable for damages if they fail to do so. The resolution calls on nations to cease “wrongful acts” contributing to emissions, including fossil fuel production and licensing, and to uphold commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The draft, circulated among a dozen countries including the Netherlands, Colombia, and Kenya, seeks to secure broad support through informal consultations scheduled for mid-February, with a vote anticipated by the end of March. Vanuatu’s climate minister, Ralph Regenvanu, emphasized that respecting the ICJ’s ruling is crucial for maintaining the credibility of the international legal system and fostering effective collective climate action. The resolution’s strong language, notably the use of “demand,” signals a rare and assertive push for accountability within UN policy-making. If adopted, the resolution would establish an International Register of Damage to document climate-related loss and damage transparently. It would also request the UN secretary-general to propose a climate reparation mechanism to coordinate compensation claims and develop financial models to address climate impacts. This initiative complements the existing Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), which currently holds just over $590 million and is expected to begin disbursing funds for climate-related destruction projects later this year. The resolution represents a significant step toward operationalizing legal obligations for climate reparations and could reshape international climate finance and accountability frameworks.