The U.N. General Assembly has urged global action on sea level rise and climate change, but will the world respond in time to prevent catastrophe?
At a Glance
- High-level meeting on sea-level rise held by the General Assembly.
- Sea-level rise affects 1 billion people globally.
- Small island developing states called for immediate international action.
- G20 countries urged to lead in reducing emissions at COP29.
- Republic of Korea pledges $600 million to the Green Climate Fund by 2027.
Global Leaders Address Sea Level Rise
This week, the U.N. General Assembly focused on the issues of sea level rise driven by climate change. Representatives from small island nations emphasized the immediate threats to their countries, pleading for decisive global cooperation. The session highlighted the critical need for a unified international strategy to address the severe impacts of rising sea levels. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, called for alarm systems in all nations by 2027 and urged G20 countries to take the lead in emission reductions.
Sea-level rise, threatening lives and livelihoods globally, impacts nearly 1 billion people. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates an increase of 15-30 cm by 2050. Guterres stressed the necessity of G20 leadership in emissions reduction to achieve significant financial outcomes at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).
Small Island Nations Plead for Immediate Action
Small island developing States and low-lying countries are on the frontlines of sea-level rise. Speaking for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the Prime Minister of Samoa noted, “We contributed almost nothing to this global scourge, but it is our land that is being consumed by the sea.” The Maldives President also called for continued support through the Loss and Damage Fund.
As President of the General Assembly and as a native of Trinidad and Tobago, I have witnessed how vulnerable Small Island Developing States are to sea-level rise.
I urge global leaders to unite on 25 September 2024 for the High-Level Meeting on this threat.
Together, we can… pic.twitter.com/KoRfFh1enF
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) August 11, 2024
Global Commitments to Tackle the Crisis
During the Assembly, countries such as the Republic of Korea pledged substantial contributions. Korea has committed $600 million to the Green Climate Fund by 2027. This timely support underlines the importance of international cooperation, data, and science for effective monitoring and risk analysis.
For those on the front lines, the impacts of rising seas threaten livelihoods, inflict damage to settlements and critical infrastructure, and can in its most dramatic manifestations force the displacement of entire island populations and coastal communities.
Secretary-General Guterres announced the forthcoming “Summit of the Future” to modernize international institutions and tackle global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical divisions, and unregulated new technologies. The General Assembly approved a 42-page “Pact of the Future” with a vote of 143-7 and 15 abstentions, aiming to chart the pathway to address these pressing issues.
I was deeply moved by my meeting with coastal communities in Samoa forced to move their homes inland.
Sea levels are rising at a rate not seen in at least 3,000 years.
If we don’t reverse these climate change trends, we will see this tragedy in other coastal areas globally. pic.twitter.com/zDvPYkHnCr
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 22, 2024
Record High Global Sea Levels
Global sea levels reached a record high in 2023. Over the last decade, the rate of the rise has more than doubled compared to the first decade of satellite records. This increase is a direct symptom of climate change caused by warming oceans and melting glaciers and ice sheets. G20 countries were urged to reduce emissions and work towards limiting temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees as a critical action against global warming.
An urgent and escalating threat, doubly impactful to small island nations, demands immediate attention and strong international cooperation to mitigate the dire consequences of rising sea levels.
UN chief @antonoguterres said the world "cannot allow the wholesale destruction of countries" in remarks to the High-Level Meeting on Sea-Level Rise, which has brought together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders at #UNGA79 to address this urgent and escalating threat. 🌊 pic.twitter.com/q6BG3cYLPM
— United Nations Caribbean (@CaribbeanUN) September 25, 2024
Sources
1. Stop global warming to turn the tide on sea level rise: UN Assembly President
