The United Nations General Assembly has passed a historic resolution, with 141 votes in favor, 8 against, and 28 abstentions, endorsing the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on "the obligations of states in respect of climate change." This resolution emphasizes that states have obligations under international law to protect the climate system and the environment from harm caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, marking a significant advancement in global climate rule of law. Notably, this resolution was not proposed by traditional climate powers or Western blocs but was a result of collective efforts by Global South nations, highlighting their shift from being passive "rule-takers" to active "rule-shaper" in the global arena.

From the perspective of the evolution of international law, the climate change agenda has undergone profound transformation in recent years, gradually shifting from a soft model based on political commitments and voluntary actions to a rigid rule-of-law framework characterized by legal obligations. Firstly, international judicial bodies are driving a legal turn in the climate issue. In May 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, at the request of the Commission of Small Island States, issued an advisory opinion clarifying for the first time that states have an obligation to take measures to prevent marine environmental damage from climate change. In September of the same year, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued an advisory opinion linking climate damage to human rights protection for the first time, specifying states' cross-border protection duties. Secondly, the ICJ's advisory opinion represents a pivotal turn in climate jurisprudence. As the principal judicial organ of the UN, the ICJ's authority is unparalleled. In July 2025, the ICJ issued its advisory opinion, confirming for the first time that states have customary international law obligations to prevent climate harm, outlining the constitutive elements of internationally wrongful acts in the climate sphere and rules on reparations, and establishing the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" as the normative framework for the legality of state conduct. Finally, the UNGA resolution provides political endorsement of the ICJ's opinion. While the advisory opinion itself is not legally binding and the UNGA resolution does not create legal obligations, the voting outcome signifies that the climate rule-of-law progress established by the ICJ's opinion has gained political acceptance from the vast majority of UN member states.

The majority of Global South nations are staunch supporters of this resolution. The Alliance of Small Island States, the vast majority of the African Group, most ASEAN members, and key members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States voted in favor. Over two-thirds of the 141 affirmative votes came from the Global South. The Belizean UN representative, speaking on behalf of AOSIS, stated: "The UNGA resolution and the ICJ advisory opinion are crucial. Climate change is not only governed by the Paris Agreement; climate justice also requires the full application of international law." The facts show that the overwhelming majority of Global South countries, with unprecedented strategic awareness, are promoting the development of global climate rule of law in a direction that helps safeguard development rights and secure governance support, which is of great significance for maintaining the stability and progress of global climate governance.

Regarding this resolution, seven Middle Eastern oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, proposed four amendments aimed at deleting certain clauses and softening the language on state obligations. Their stance reflects a preventive resistance to trends in international law that could potentially undermine the foundations of their national interests. The United States' opposition is closely tied to the Trump administration's negative climate stance, which not only denies any obligation to prevent extraterritorial climate harm but also disputes that climate change constitutes an "unprecedented civilizational challenge." Abstentions on this resolution reflect developmental anxieties among some developing nations. The Indian representative argued that the resolution failed to address the climate finance gap faced by developing countries, while South Africa stated its abstention was a principled defense of the established global climate governance framework, not a departure from climate commitments. Other abstaining nations like Nigeria, Indonesia, and the UAE are also developing countries with industrialization or energy development needs. Balancing the promotion of global climate action with preserving necessary development space was a key consideration for these abstentions.

China, as a natural member of the Global South, has consistently and firmly supported initiatives by Global South countries regarding climate change advisory opinions, contributing Chinese wisdom to global climate governance and the advancement of international climate law. During the development of this advisory opinion, in December 2024, Ambassador Ma Xinmin, Legal Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of the UN International Law Commission, presented China's statement during the oral proceedings of the ICJ advisory opinion case. On July 24, 2025, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated at a regular press conference that the ICJ's advisory opinion reflects the longstanding positions and propositions of the vast number of developing countries, including China. China actively participated in this case. As the largest developing country, China has always been a steadfast actor and significant contributor to global green development. China is resolutely implementing an active national strategy on climate change. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's carbon emission intensity decreased by 17.7% cumulatively, ranking among the top reductions for major economies. In terms of energy structure, by the end of 2025, China's total installed capacity of renewable energy reached 2.34 billion kilowatts, with wind and solar power combined accounting for 1.84 billion kilowatts, surpassing the share of thermal power. In clean energy technology, China's clean energy investment in 2025 was approximately $630 billion, accounting for 29% of global total investment, nearly matching the combined total of the EU and the US. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol noted: "China is playing an increasingly important role in the global clean energy sector, making outstanding contributions to advancing clean energy development and leading the global energy transition." China has consistently supported Global South countries in addressing climate change with concrete actions. To date, China has signed 56 cooperation documents with 43 developing countries, held over 300 South-South cooperation training sessions on climate change, and helped enhance climate governance capabilities in the Global South through cooperative construction of low-carbon demonstration zones and related climate projects. Simultaneously, China is highly attentive to the developmental and survival challenges faced by climate-vulnerable countries like small island states, providing support for climate infrastructure construction to countries such as Comoros, Maldives, and Antigua and Barbuda through mechanisms like the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. At a time when the US has withdrawn from commitments, the EU wavers, and global governance faces profound challenges, the governance initiative and autonomy of China and other Global South nations are becoming increasingly prominent, making significant contributions to maintaining the stability of global climate governance, advancing global climate good governance, and enhancing the voice and influence of the Global South.