UN chief sounds alarm on rising sea levels in Pacific Islands

United Nations secretary-general António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the existential threat posed by rising sea levels to the Pacific Island nations.

Speaking at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, the UN chief painted a grim picture of the climate emergency, stressing that the world must act urgently to protect these vulnerable nations from catastrophe.

“Raging conflicts, an escalating climate crisis, inequalities and injustices everywhere, and the 2030 Agenda is faltering,” Guterres said. “But this region is a beacon of solidarity and strength, environmental stewardship and peace.”

In his remarks, Guterres emphasized the scale of the crisis, noting that greenhouse gases are driving ocean heating, acidification, and an “accelerating rise in sea levels.”

The address came just after Guterres and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) secretary-general Celeste Saulo released the WMO State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2023 report.

The report highlighted that sea levels in the Pacific are rising faster than the global average, endangering the livelihoods and homes of millions in the region.

Rising sea levels could lead to devastating impacts on coastal communities, from loss of land to more frequent and severe weather events, the report said.

Guterres also praised the Pacific islands for their leadership in climate action.

“The Pacific islands are showing the way to protect our climate, our planet, and our ocean,” he said.

Guterres also commended their climate emergency declarations and pursuit of a fossil-fuel-free Pacific, while calling their efforts a “blueprint for the G20 and for the world.”

He urged global cooperation and solidarity, while stressing on the importance of a just transition away from fossil fuels, which he identified as the main driver of the climate crisis.

“The survival plan for our planet is simple: Establishing a just transition for the phaseout of the fossil fuels that are responsible for 85% of the emissions of greenhouse gases,” Guterres said.

He further called for countries to present new national climate plans by next year that align with the 1.5°C threshold set in the Paris Agreement.

The UN chief’s remarks also underscored the importance of financial support for Pacific Island nations as they adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

To support these efforts, Guterres reiterated his calls for reforming the global financial architecture, including increased lending from multilateral development banks, debt-relief programs, and an enhanced redistribution of special drawing rights.

These measures, he said, are vital for helping developing countries, particularly small island states, cope with the growing threats posed by climate change.

The stakes are particularly high for the Pacific, where rising sea levels are not just a climate issue but a security crisis as well.
“The decisions world leaders take in the coming years will determine the fate, first of Pacific Islanders — but also of everyone else,” he said. “If we save the Pacific, we save the world.”

Guterres also shared that the upcoming Summit of the Future in New York, set for next month, will provide a critical opportunity to address these issues.

“Across the board, the Summit aims to provide developing countries with a greater voice on the global stage, including at the UN Security Council and in international financial institutions,” he said.

Guterres concluded his speech by calling on the Pacific Island nations to continue leading the global fight against climate change.

The UN secretary-general’s message was clear: saving the Pacific Islands could be key to saving the world from a climate catastrophe.

Pabitra Margherita, India’s minister of state for external affairs and textiles, will visit Tonga on 28-29 August.

The minister will represent India at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders’ meeting with dialogue partners, a grouping that India has been a part of since 2002.

The PIF, the primary intergovernmental organization in the Pacific region, includes 18 members such as Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The visit comes in the wake of the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) held in May 2023 in Papua New Guinea, which was chaired by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.