The UN General Assembly convened a high-level meeting to address the critical issue of sea level rise. UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang led the session, highlighting the urgency of the situation. He warned that sea levels could rise by 20 centimeters by 2050, displacing up to 1.2 billion people.
Rising seas threaten livelihoods and critical infrastructure in coastal communities. The impacts could force entire island populations to relocate. President Yang urged global cooperation to build resilience, tackle disaster vulnerability, and implement climate adaptation strategies. He emphasized the need to stop global warming by limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this call, stressing the need for drastic action to reduce emissions. He highlighted the importance of early warning systems to protect lives by 2027. Countries must deliver new climate action plans aligned with the 1.5°C goal. G20 nations, responsible for 80% of global emissions, must take the lead in this effort.
Finance plays a critical role in this battle. Guterres called for a strong financial outcome at COP29, the upcoming UN climate conference in Azerbaijan. He urged significant contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund to assist developing nations. Richer countries should double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion annually by 2025. Multilateral development banks must be reformed to provide affordable finance to developing countries.
Former General Assembly President Dennis Francis praised UN Member States for taking decisive action. He noted that the meeting is a starting point for an ambitious declaration in September 2026. This declaration aims to secure the prosperity, dignity, and rights of all affected countries and communities.
Francis called for greater support for climate adaptation in vulnerable communities. He pointed out that climate financing is not reaching the local level sufficiently and should not increase debt for disaster-prone countries.
Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Feleti Teo, highlighted the existential threat of sea level rise to small island developing countries. He described how saltwater is contaminating drinking water, storms are devastating villages, and crops are failing due to flooding. These harsh realities are already impacting their nations, not just future projections.
European Union Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra focused on the importance of both mitigation and resilience. The EU is committed to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 as part of its climate law. However, Hoekstra stressed that reducing emissions alone will not be enough. The EU will continue to support vulnerable communities in adapting to rising climate risks.
The meeting underscored the urgent need for global cooperation to combat the dual challenges of global warming and sea level rise. The time for action is now, with leaders calling for immediate steps to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment.