The resolution, scheduled for debate on Wednesday, was spearheaded by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, which led a successful 2024 campaign urging the ICJ to clarify states’ duties under international law regarding climate action.

Last year, the Hague-based court concluded that governments are legally obligated to take measures against climate change and warned that failure to meet those obligations could expose states to claims for reparations from countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.

The latest draft resolution describes the ICJ opinion as “an authoritative contribution to the clarification of existing international law” and calls on countries to comply with obligations aimed at protecting the global climate system.

The text also reiterates support for limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and references the international commitment adopted at the 2023 climate summit in Dubai to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.

Negotiations over the resolution, however, resulted in significant revisions after opposition from several major greenhouse gas emitters and industrial economies, according to diplomatic sources.

An earlier proposal to establish an “International Register of Damage” documenting climate-related losses and injuries was removed from the current version after objections from countries including the United States, China, Japan, members of the European Union and oil-producing states.

Those governments argued the mechanism extended beyond the scope of the ICJ opinion and raised concerns about potential pathways toward compensation claims or reparations linked to historical emissions.

Vanuatu Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu defended the revised text, saying the resolution does not create new legal obligations or assign liability to individual states.

“For Vanuatu and for many climate-vulnerable states, this is ultimately about survival,” Regenvanu said, adding that the measure was intended to strengthen multilateral cooperation on climate governance.

Despite the dilution of several provisions, climate advocates said the resolution remains politically significant because it reinforces the growing role of international law in shaping climate accountability.

Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, described the current draft as “still a strong text” despite intense diplomatic pressure during negotiations.

Diplomatic sources said the resolution may not secure the broad consensus achieved during the General Assembly’s original request for the ICJ opinion in 2024, with at least one member state expected to call for a formal vote.

The draft also requests that United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prepare a report outlining options to advance compliance with obligations identified in the ICJ ruling.

Speaking at the commemoration of the World Program of Action for Youth, launched 30 years ago, Al-Ibrahim stressed that the younger generation must be at the center of global strategies.

“In a world where many struggle to embrace long-term vision, youth remain the key factor,” he said. “They possess the future more than we ever will. The lessons from our experiences are clear: involve youth, invest in them, and depend on them today.”

Al-Ibrahim highlighted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as an example of youth-driven leadership, noting that his transformative vision has helped channel the energy and ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s younger generation into tangible national progress.

“It is not merely about population size, but about leadership,” he added, citing Saudi Vision 2030 as “the best model of long-term planning and sustainable implementation.”

The minister also pointed to global challenges facing young people, warning that nearly half of the world’s population is under 30, yet youth unemployment is three times higher than that of adults. Millions remain outside formal education, training, or employment systems.

Al-Ibrahim cautioned that the global community’s response will determine whether demographic trends become “opportunities that bear fruit or burdens that weigh down the entire global system.”

“Coming from a medical background, I’m naturally optimistic,” Al-Rabeeah told Arab News on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. “With increasing acceptance of Palestine by many countries, particularly in the West, we are moving closer to achieving a durable solution.”

The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, led to the adoption of the New York Declaration—a comprehensive roadmap outlining timebound, actionable steps to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Endorsed by the UN General Assembly with overwhelming support, the declaration provides a multi-dimensional framework covering political governance, security, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, and legal accountability. Key measures include an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, reunification with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (excluding Hamas), a temporary UN-led stabilization mission, and a halt to Israeli settlement expansion.

“The people of Palestine have endured immense suffering for many years,” Al-Rabeeah said. “The two-state solution remains the only viable path for long-term peace and a brighter future for Palestinians.”

Al-Rabeeah also highlighted global humanitarian challenges, ahead of a high-level UN meeting on displaced populations. With over 130 million people displaced worldwide and donor fatigue threatening aid efforts, he called for renewed international commitment.

“We face multiple crises — in Sudan, Ukraine, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond,” he noted. “This meeting is essential to highlight the urgency of resolving ongoing crises, preventing new ones, and ensuring a better future for refugees and displaced communities.”