The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly supported decisive measures to limit climate change, despite recent diplomatic efforts by the United States to overturn the measure, AP reports, according to UNN.
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The 193-member world body approved a non-binding resolution affirming a landmark advisory opinion issued by the UN International Court of Justice last July, which called the failure of countries to protect the planet from climate change a violation of international law.
"The highest court in the world has spoken. Today, the General Assembly has responded," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement. "This is a powerful affirmation of international law, climate justice, science, and the responsibility of states to protect people from the escalating climate crisis."
The vote concluded with a count of 141-8, with 28 abstentions. The US, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—some of the largest oil-producing nations and major sources of greenhouse gas emissions—opposed the measure. Climate change is primarily caused by the burning of coal, oil, and gas.
The text includes the adoption of a national climate action plan aimed at limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius; the phased elimination of subsidies for fossil fuel exploration, extraction, and development; and a call for violators to provide "full compensation" for damages caused.
The Government is preparing a national emissions trading system for greenhouse gases19.05.26, 12:40