RECORDING
https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/events/from-opinion-to-action-o...
On 6 February 2026, the Government of Vanuatu, together with a regionally diverse core group, introduced the zero draft of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution to endorse and build upon the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion with regard to climate obligations. This briefing, organized by Vanuatu, the Center for International Environmental Law, World's Youth for Climate Justice, and the Geneva Environment Network, aims to present the content of the resolution and discuss how Geneva-based actors can contribute to a strong support to the resolution.
About this Event
The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of States in respect of climate change, delivered on 23 July 2025, unequivocally confirms that States have obligations to prevent climate harm and protect human rights, including the right to a healthy environment, by exercising enhanced due diligence in putting in place effective measures with the aim of keeping global average temperature rise below 1.5°C, including by regulating private actors.
This ruling expands upon similar conclusions delivered by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) (Advisory Opinion of 21 May 2024) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Advisory Opinion of 3 July 2025).
On 6 February, 2026, the Government of Vanuatu, together with a regionally diverse core group (the Netherlands, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Barbados, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Jamaica, the Philippines, and Burkina Faso), introduced the zero draft of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution to endorse and build upon the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion with regard to climate obligations. Following the conclusion of the negotiations on this draft resolution, the final text of the draft resolution was publicly released by the core group on 1 May 2026 and its adoption is scheduled for 20 May. The resolution is currently open for co-sponsorship through the e-deleGATE portal.
Nineteen UN experts have urged all States to support the UNGA resolution, noting that it should be seen “as something that will benefit them all, through mutual learning and international cooperation on the climate crisis that is spreading across all continents”. The Human Rights Council has already recognized the guidance provided in the ICJ climate advisory opinion in resolution 60/20 on sea-level rise and human rights.
Geneva-based permanent missions and human rights mechanisms have played a pivotal role in informing the advisory opinion through a wealth of resolutions, authoritative statements, and reports. This briefing aims to present the content of the resolution and discuss how Geneva-based actors can contribute to a strong support to the resolution ahead of and after its adoption at the General Assembly later this month.
The event will be followed by light refreshments.
Speakers
By order of intervention.
H.E. Ralph REGENVANU
Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Vanuatu (Video statement)
Richardo COLMAR
Deputy Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva
H.E. Amb. Matthew WILSON
Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva
H.E. Amb. João António MIRA GOMES
Permanent Representative of Portugal to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva
H.E. Amb. Álvaro Enrique AYALA MELÉNDEZ
Coordinator for human rights, Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Vicente YU
External of-counsel for the Philippines for the ICJ climate change AO national submissions; Senior Legal Adviser, Third World Network; former Deputy Executive Director, South Centre
Jule SCHNAKENBERG
Executive Director, World's Youth for Climate Justice
Joie CHOWDHURY
Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law | Moderator
Registration
This event is taking place in person at Palais des Nations, Room IX. To attend in person, kindly register via Indic
