UNITED NATIONS (AP) 鈥� The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to support strong action to limit climate change despite recent diplomatic efforts by the United States to have the measure withdrawn.
The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the by the U.N.鈥檚 top court last July that called failure by countries to protect the planet from climate change a violation of international law.
鈥淭he world鈥檚 highest court has spoken. Today, the General Assembly has answered,鈥� U.N. Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres said in a statement. 鈥淭his is a powerful affirmation of international law, climate justice, science, and the responsibility of states to protect people from the escalating climate crisis.鈥�
The vote was 141-8 with 28 abstentions. The U.S., Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia 鈥� some of the highest oil-producing nations and major greenhouse gas emitters 鈥� opposed the measure. Climate change is caused mainly by the burning of coal, oil and gas.
The text includes adopting 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 exploitation; and urging those in violation to provide 鈥渇ull reparation鈥� for damage.
The set a goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, or the mid-1800s, giving rise to the mantra but now scientists say even their best-case scenario still shoots past that signature temperature mark.
The U.N. resolution had initially included stronger language from the International Court of Justice opinion that called for establishing an 鈥淚nternational Register of Damage鈥� to record evidence and claims, but it was removed after nearly a dozen consultations in order to receive more support.
The adoption came despite in February that the Trump administration had been urging other nations to press the small island country of Vanuatu 鈥� the draft’s original sponsor 鈥� to withdraw it from consideration.
In guidance issued to all U.S. embassies and consulates, the State Department had said it 鈥渟trongly objects鈥� to the proposal and that its adoption 鈥渃ould pose a major threat to U.S. industry.鈥�
On Wednesday, Tammy Bruce, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., blasted the measure once again, calling it 鈥渉ighly problematic鈥� and maintaining that Washington has serious legal and policy concerns despite changes to the draft.
鈥淭he resolution includes inappropriate political demands relating to fossil fuels and on other climate topics,鈥� Bruce told the assembly before the vote.
But representatives from Vanuatu and other island nations, who because of the impact of climate change, said it was important for the General Assembly to back the court opinion, which was hailed as a turning point in international climate law.
鈥淲e should be honest with one another about why this matters,鈥� Odo Tevi, the Vanuatu ambassador to the U.N., said before the vote. 鈥淚t matters because the harm is real and it is already here, along our islands and coastlines, for communities facing drought and failed harvests.鈥�
He added, 鈥淭he states and peoples bearing the heaviest burden are very often those who contributed least to the problem.鈥�
The action by the world body follows decades of frustration for Pacific nations that are watching their homelands disappear.
In Tuvalu, where the average elevation is just 2 meters (6.6 feet) above sea level, more than a third of the population has applied for a climate migration visa to Australia, although only a limited number are accepted each year. By 2100, much of the country is projected to be underwater at high tide.
In Nauru, the government has begun selling passports to wealthy foreigners 鈥� offering visa-free access to dozens of countries 鈥� in a bid to generate revenue for possible relocation efforts.
Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Wednesday that by endorsing the court ruling, the U.N. 鈥渞eaffirmed the global commitment to protect human rights.鈥� He noted that it came 鈥渄espite efforts by the U.S. and other oil-producing states to stifle attempts to combat climate change.鈥�
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