United Nations adopts landmark resolution on climate justice

Resolution hailed as win for climate justice of epic proportions' should make it easier to hold countries accountable for failures

A UN resolution was adopted on Wednesday that should make it easier to hold polluting countries legally accountable for failing to tackle the climate emergency, in a vote which was hailed as a historic victory for climate justice.

The UN general assembly adopted by consensus the resolution spearheaded by Vanuatu, a tiny Pacific island nation vulnerable to extreme climate effects, and youth activists to secure a legal opinion from the international court of justice (ICJ) to clarify states' obligations to tackle the climate crisis - and specify any consequences countries should face for inaction.