[Kasalikasan] When the world votes strong for climate accountability

I won’t blame you if the Cayetanos, the Legardas, and the Batos of this world distracted you from an important climate news that happened last week: the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on May 20 voted 141-8 to adopt a resolution backing a 2025 world court opinion that said countries have a legal obligation to address climate change.

Climate-vulnerable Philippines was among the majority of countries that voted in favor, while the world’s biggest historical emitter, the United States, unsurprisingly, voted against. The resolution was led by Vanuatu and 12 other countries, including the Philippines.

What does this mean? In an Instagram post, the United Nations wrote: “Through this #UNGA resolution, countries reaffirm that addressing the climate crisis is a legal duty under international law, not just a political choice.”

With back-to-back wins at the World Court and UNGA, the Philippines “must now prove it can ‘walk the talk,’” said coalition Aksyon Klima Pilipinas as it joined other civil society groups in calling for the “world’s biggest corporations and ultra-rich polluters” to pay for climate damage.

Learn more about the International Court of Justice’s historic opinion from Rappler’s coverage in 2025:

• In ‘A new era’: Key takeaways from the World Court’s landmark climate opinion, Rappler environment reporter Iya Gozum writes about the salient points of the advisory opinion.
• In Landmark world court opinion paves way for holding polluters accountable, former Rappler investigative reporter Lian Buan discusses the opinion and its application of customary international law, and how “we have entered an era of [climate] accountability.”
• In this video, Iya and Lian give initial summaries on the heels of the landmark opinion.
• In this The Green Report episode, Iya and I talk to Nicole Ponce, the global advocacy lead of World’s Youth for Climate Justice, who helped campaign for the opinion.

Aside from the UNGA resolution, it would be remiss of me not to highlight some of the amazing work our cluster has produced recently, starting with this gripping series on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by Iya:

• Mohagher Iqbal, the peacemaker
• For Moros, the price of peace is life
• A Teduray mother takes care of home
• Nine years displaced: Marawi siege survivors remain in limbo

Then there are these video explainers by Rappler’s Shay Du and Leah Sagaad on our outdated power grid and what it means for us consumers (Watch out for the third video, coming soon!):

• Why is your electricity bill more expensive this month?
• Why do brownouts always happen during summer?

Help us continue these deep dives into the most pressing environmental and local issues by being part of Rappler+. Hopefully, you won’t be as distracted anymore when the next climate win comes, whenever that may be.

Till the Tuesday after next!

Here are other stories that you shouldn’t miss:

Rappler Talk: Making peace work in the Bangsamoro

Ombudsman urged to probe Davao flood control projects

This website lets you see the rich biodiversity of Pag-Asa Island up close

– Rappler.com

Kasalikasan is a bimonthly newsletter featuring environmental and science issues, delivered straight to your inbox every other Tuesday. Visit rappler.com/newsletters to subscribe.