A meeting session of UN General Assembly. (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) – A globalproblem, climate change requires a global approach based on multilateral cooperation and institutions, particularly the respect for international law andthe UN Charter, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative ofVietnam to the United Nations (UN), has said.
Vietnam’s engagement in UN resolution that urges theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) to outline nations' legal obligationsrelated to curbing climate change disasters and their impacts on vulnerablecommunities proves the country’s point of view, the ambassador said in a recentinterview to the Vietnam News Agency right after the resolution was adopted onMarch 29.
The resolution, co-sponsored by 132countries, calls on the ICJ to lay out nations' obligations forprotecting Earth's climate, and the legal consequences they face if they don't. The court's opinion would be non-binding.
Giang described the adoption of the resolution as particularlysignificant.
First, it shows the enormous consequences of climatechange and the urgency to strengthen climate change response.
Second, the urgency has become so great that it hasattracted widespread international attention.
Third, the adoption of the resolution by consensus showsthe advantages of the multilateral approach, upholding international law, andattaching importance to consultation and dialogue between countries.
The adoption of the resolution shows thatthe international community can and is more willing to take strong actionstogether to respond to climate change, Giang said.
Vietnam hasbeen actively involved in promoting Vanuatu’s initiative on the resolution from the early stages,Giang said, adding that Vietnam is one of the first five members of the coregroup.
Vietnamactively participated in developing the draft resolution by attending nearly 50meetings of the group from September 2022, as well as in threerounds of formal consultations with all UN member states and many otherinformal contacts, Giang said, adding many ofVietnam’s opinions were included in the resolution.
As Vietnam is considered one of the countries most severely affected by climate change, especially by sea level rise, itsactive participation in the core group to develop the resolution helpshighlight Vietnam's active policies and efforts on climate change response,including its commitment to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050.
The participation also affirms Vietnam's active role ininternational mechanisms and forums on climate change, together with othercountries to strengthen international cooperation on this issue, thus callingon more international support for the country in climate change responses.
In the longer term, the ICJ's advisory opinion is likelyto help countries, particularly developing countries like Vietnam have strongermeasures and resources for climate change responses./.
