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Reuters
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
UN passes climate change motion after Marshall Islands drops fossil fuels focus
GENEVA, July 8 (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council passed a motion on climate change and human rights on Tuesday after the Marshall Islands withdrew a divisive amendment that called on states to recommit to a phase-out of fossil fuels. The motion calling on countries "to contribute to the global efforts" against climate change passed by consensus and follows the council in 2021 recognising access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. The original language of the motion had exposed divisions among the 47 members after the Marshall Islands, one of the countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels, made an amendment to the motion to mention exiting fossil fuels as agreed by states at the COP28 climate summit in December 2023. "My country - like many of our Pacific neighbours - places a high premium on collaboration, dialogue and consensus and we were willing to recognise this by withdrawing our amendment," Doreen Debrum, ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. in Geneva, told the council. Instead, the motion referred to "the imperative of defossilizing our economies" in a footnote - allowing the motion to pass without being put to a vote in which the outcome had not been certain. The council's decisions are not legally binding but help shape global standards. Oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and voting member Kuwait had earlier voiced opposition to the phrasing in negotiations, according to three diplomats. Riyadh called instead for "multiple pathways" to reduce emissions. There was no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment from Saudi Arabia's international media offices or the foreign ministry of Kuwait. Their diplomatic missions in Geneva did not immediately respond. Sébastien Duyck, human rights and climate campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, said: "We deeply regret its (the council's) continued failure to explicitly call for an equitable phase-out of fossil fuels — the root cause of the crisis." The move comes as leaders on climate action, such as the European Union, face criticism from campaigners that they are scaling back policies even as they deal with the consequences of a blistering early summer heatwave. The U.S., which has withdrawn from climate action, opens new tab under President Donald Trump, did not participate formally in the vote after disengaging with the council this year.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
UN vote to phase out fossil fuels tests climate commitments
Countries are set to vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday on a pledge to phase out fossil fuels to fight climate change, with diplomats warning that Gulf states and others may renege on previous commitments. The vote, on a broader motion on acting against global warming, follows the council in 2021 recognising access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. But it has exposed divisions among the 47 members after the Marshall Islands, one of the most countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels, with average elevation of just 2 meters, made an amendment to the motion to mention exiting fossil fuels. With that, the vote has become a test of countries' willingness to eventually exit the oil age after states agreed to do so at the COP28 climate summit in December 2023. The council's decisions, often reached by consensus without a vote, are not legally binding but help shape global standards. It is not clear whether there will be a majority in favour of the language later on Tuesday. "It is incomprehensible that a resolution purporting to advance the protection of human rights from the effects of climate change would fail to mention the need to transition from fossil fuels ...," Doreen Debrum, ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. in Geneva, told Reuters ahead of the vote. The move is supported by Australia, Britain and Germany and a group of small island states including Samoa and Vanuatu. But oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and voting member Kuwait voiced opposition to the phrasing in negotiations, according to three diplomats. Riyadh called instead for "multiple pathways" to reduce emissions. There was no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment from Saudi Arabia's international media offices or the foreign ministry of Kuwait. Their diplomatic missions in Geneva did not immediately respond. Sébastien Duyck, human rights and climate campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, called the vote a "litmus test for governments". The move comes as leaders on climate action, such as the European Union, face criticism from campaigners that they are scaling back policies even as they deal with the consequences of a blistering early summer heatwave. The U.S., which has withdrawn from climate action under President Donald Trump, will not participate formally in the vote since disengaging with the council this year. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Alison Williams)
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN passes climate change motion after Marshall Islands drops fossil fuels focus
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators march across the Brooklyn Bridge, rallying to call an end to the era of fossil fuel, New York City, U.S., September 20, 2024. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo GENEVA - The U.N. Human Rights Council passed a motion on climate change and human rights on Tuesday after the Marshall Islands withdrew a divisive amendment that called on states to recommit to a phase-out of fossil fuels. The motion calling on countries "to contribute to the global efforts" against climate change passed by consensus and follows the council in 2021 recognising access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. The original language of the motion had exposed divisions among the 47 members after the Marshall Islands, one of the countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels, made an amendment to the motion to mention exiting fossil fuels as agreed by states at the COP28 climate summit in December 2023. "My country - like many of our Pacific neighbours - places a high premium on collaboration, dialogue and consensus and we were willing to recognise this by withdrawing our amendment," Doreen Debrum, ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. in Geneva, told the council. Instead, the motion referred to "the imperative of defossilizing our economies" in a footnote - allowing the motion to pass without being put to a vote in which the outcome had not been certain. The council's decisions are not legally binding but help shape global standards. Oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and voting member Kuwait had earlier voiced opposition to the phrasing in negotiations, according to three diplomats. Riyadh called instead for "multiple pathways" to reduce emissions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, Asean has little choice but to play on Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Sport Speeding likely cause of Diogo Jota car crash: Police Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses There was no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment from Saudi Arabia's international media offices or the foreign ministry of Kuwait. Their diplomatic missions in Geneva did not immediately respond. Sébastien Duyck, human rights and climate campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, said: "We deeply regret its (the council's) continued failure to explicitly call for an equitable phase-out of fossil fuels — the root cause of the crisis." The move comes as leaders on climate action, such as the European Union, face criticism from campaigners that they are scaling back policies even as they deal with the consequences of a blistering early summer heatwave. The U.S., which has withdrawn from climate action under President Donald Trump, did not participate formally in the vote after disengaging with the council this year. REUTERS
The Star
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
UN vote to phase out fossil fuels tests climate commitments
FILE PHOTO: Rising stock graph and 3D printed oil barrels miniature are seen in this illustration taken June 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo GENEVA (Reuters) -Countries are set to vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday on a pledge to phase out fossil fuels to fight climate change, with diplomats warning that Gulf states and others may renege on previous commitments. The vote, on a broader motion on acting against global warming, follows the council in 2021 recognising access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. But it has exposed divisions among the 47 members after the Marshall Islands, one of the most countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels, with average elevation of just 2 meters, made an amendment to the motion to mention exiting fossil fuels. With that, the vote has become a test of countries' willingness to eventually exit the oil age after states agreed to do so at the COP28 climate summit in December 2023. The council's decisions, often reached by consensus without a vote, are not legally binding but help shape global standards. It is not clear whether there will be a majority in favour of the language later on Tuesday. "It is incomprehensible that a resolution purporting to advance the protection of human rights from the effects of climate change would fail to mention the need to transition from fossil fuels ...," Doreen Debrum, ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. in Geneva, told Reuters ahead of the vote. The move is supported by Australia, Britain and Germany and a group of small island states including Samoa and Vanuatu. But oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and voting member Kuwait voiced opposition to the phrasing in negotiations, according to three diplomats. Riyadh called instead for "multiple pathways" to reduce emissions. There was no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment from Saudi Arabia's international media offices or the foreign ministry of Kuwait. Their diplomatic missions in Geneva did not immediately respond. Sébastien Duyck, human rights and climate campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, called the vote a "litmus test for governments". The move comes as leaders on climate action, such as the European Union, face criticism from campaigners that they are scaling back policies even as they deal with the consequences of a blistering early summer heatwave. The U.S., which has withdrawn from climate action under President Donald Trump, will not participate formally in the vote since disengaging with the council this year. (Reporting by Emma Farge;Editing by Alison Williams)
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
UN vote to phase out fossil fuels tests climate commitments
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Rising stock graph and 3D printed oil barrels miniature are seen in this illustration taken June 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo GENEVA - Countries are set to vote at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday on a pledge to phase out fossil fuels to fight climate change, with diplomats warning that Gulf states and others may renege on previous commitments. The vote, on a broader motion on acting against global warming, follows the council in 2021 recognising access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right. But it has exposed divisions among the 47 members after the Marshall Islands, one of the most countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels, with average elevation of just 2 meters, made an amendment to the motion to mention exiting fossil fuels. With that, the vote has become a test of countries' willingness to eventually exit the oil age after states agreed to do so at the COP28 climate summit in December 2023. The council's decisions, often reached by consensus without a vote, are not legally binding but help shape global standards. It is not clear whether there will be a majority in favour of the language later on Tuesday. "It is incomprehensible that a resolution purporting to advance the protection of human rights from the effects of climate change would fail to mention the need to transition from fossil fuels ...," Doreen Debrum, ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. in Geneva, told Reuters ahead of the vote. The move is supported by Australia, Britain and Germany and a group of small island states including Samoa and Vanuatu. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Singapore New Draft Master Plan could reignite developers' interest to buy land Asia Seoul scorches at 37.8 deg C, highest early-July temperature ever recorded Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses Asia China warns Trump on tariffs, threatens retaliation on supply chain deals Multimedia 'I suspect he's cheating': She finds proof when spouses stray But oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia and voting member Kuwait voiced opposition to the phrasing in negotiations, according to three diplomats. Riyadh called instead for "multiple pathways" to reduce emissions. There was no immediate response to Reuters' requests for comment from Saudi Arabia's international media offices or the foreign ministry of Kuwait. Their diplomatic missions in Geneva did not immediately respond. Sébastien Duyck, human rights and climate campaign manager at the Center for International Environmental Law, called the vote a "litmus test for governments". The move comes as leaders on climate action, such as the European Union, face criticism from campaigners that they are scaling back policies even as they deal with the consequences of a blistering early summer heatwave. The U.S., which has withdrawn from climate action under President Donald Trump, will not participate formally in the vote since disengaging with the council this year. REUTERS
