(Part 1) High-level Plenary Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-level Rise - General Assembly, 81st session

Excellencies, the High-Level Meeting on the General Assembly to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise, convened in accordance with General Assembly decision 78/558 of 1 August 2024, is called to order. I warmly welcome you to this high-level meeting, which seeks to shift the international response from fragmented initiatives towards sustained, coordinated, and adequately financed action. The goal of this meeting is to renew high-level political attention to sea level rise as a cross-cutting challenge with implications for climate action, sustainable development, peace and security, human rights, and international cooperation. I now invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Antonio Guterres, to make a statement.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, rising seas are sinking futures. My report on sea level rise lays bare the scale and speed of the danger. In 2024, the global sea level rose almost 6 millimeters, the highest annual increase ever recorded, and the pace is accelerating. Greenhouse gases, overwhelmingly from burning fossil fuels, are cooking our planet. And the ocean is taking the heat, absorbing some 90% of it. This past summer brought record heat waves, while a strengthening El Nino is driving sea surface temperatures to new highs. According to the IPCC, even in the best case scenario, Sea levels are projected to rise by as much as half a meter by century's end. Without drastic emission cuts, that rise could reach a meter. Meanwhile, Greenland and West Antarctica are losing ice faster, risking irreversible damages. Excellencies, around 770 million people live less than five meters above the high tide line. Without significant adaptation and mitigation, the risks facing coastal cities and communities could increase tenfold by 2100. And sea level rise is a threat multiplier, battering economies, trade, infrastructure, and food systems, erasing cultural heritage and identity, fueling instability, and threatening the territorial integrity of some nations. When land disappears and fresh water turns to salt, competition follows. And we risk a mass exodus of entire populations. This is climate injustice. Those who did last to cause this crisis pay the highest price. Excellencies, my report points to action across seafronts. First, tackle the root causes. Any overshoot of the 1.5 degree limit must be as small and short as possible. Global emissions must peak immediately and fall 60% by 2035. We must triple renewable energy, double energy efficiency, slash methane emissions, halt and reverse deforestation, and transition away from fossil fuels fast and fairly. The G20 must lead. and COP31 in Turkey must deliver. Second, we must protect people from rising waters by embedding sea level rise resilience in national adaptation plans, development budgets, infrastructure, and land use decisions, and drawing on science, data, and the knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities. Today, 128 countries report having multi-hazard early warning systems. We cannot stop until coverage reaches every person on earth. And governments must plan early and plan with people, safeguarding rights and keeping communities together wherever possible. Finance must match the crisis. The 300 billion annual goal for developing countries must be a step towards mobilizing 1.6 trillion US dollars a year by 2035. Adaptation finance must triple as a first step to closing the adaptation finance gap. And the Green Climate Fund and fund for responding to loss and damage must be fully resourced. In particular, I'm very frustrated with the, I would say, ridiculous amount that is today in the loss and damage fund. Third, close the legal gaps. The International Court of Justice and the International Law Commission stated that continued statehood is possible even if territory is lost. States have called for maritime zones and boundaries to be preserved as coastlines shift. People's rights do not disappear because their homes do, and those people must be protected. We need legal clarity consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and international cooperation is essential to reach the arrangements that affected states and local communities deserve. I commend member states for negotiating a comprehensive UN declaration on sea level rise. This milestone must now be translated into action. We must also build on the progress on the agreement on marine biological diversity, a various beyond national jurisdiction, or BBNJ, which reached one of the parties yesterday. Excellencies, sea level rise is measured in millimeters, but its toll is measured in millions of shattered lives, uprooted communities, and stolen futures. Those on the front lines must be front and center in every decision. We cannot allow countries and cultures to vanish beneath the waves or leave the aspirations of billions dead in the water. The SOS has gone out. The world must answer. Thank you.

I thank the Secretary-General. I understand that the Secretary-General has to leave at this time to attend to another urgent matter.

I still have a few minutes.

Okay.

I was following a script. I was not asking you to leave. I now invite the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Cabo Verde, His Excellency Francisco Avelino Vieira de Carvalho, to make a statement..

Thank you. Secretary General of the United Nations, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for me to represent Cabo Verde at this high-level meeting dedicated to one of the most urgent and existential challenges of all time, rising sea levels. I would like to begin by thanking the President of the 88th ordinary session of the General Assembly and the member states of the United Nations for placing their trust in Cabo Verde and Australia to co-facilitate the political declaration that we are adopting today. The conclusion of this negotiation process and the adoption of the text by consensus in these troubled times conveys a message of hope as it attests to the fact that multilateralism still works and that despite the differences, the international community remains capable of finding common ground when it comes to protecting the collective future of humanity. For Cabo Verde, a small island developing state, this declaration has a very special meaning for us. Sea level rise is neither a distant threat nor a theoretical concern. It represents a vivid and very present reality that affects our communities, infrastructure, ecosystems, water resources, health, economy, and cultural heritage. Sea level rise threatens the gains achieved in terms of our sustainable development goals. Globally, SIDS account for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but they are nevertheless the countries most exposed to the consequences of climate change. For many of us, it is a question of development, survival, and ultimately, it is also a question of preserving our historical and cultural identity deeply rooted in the land and in the sea. Excellencies, the declaration we are adopting today recognizes the urgent need to strengthen adaptation, facilitate and accelerate access to climate financing, support science, protect the rights of affected populations, preserve the rich biodiversity in our maritime areas, and strengthen international cooperation. The declaration rightly emphasizes that addressing sea level rise is not merely a climate issue, but one that extends far beyond it, encompassing fundamental questions of justice, human rights, and peace. A sustainable future cannot be built if the most vulnerable are left behind. The scenario will be even bleaker if they are stripped of their homes, their communities, their roots, and left without historical and cultural references. Adopting a declaration full of good intentions is not enough. It is imperative to ensure that it is implemented. We need to turn the political commitments solemnly made today into concrete actions supported by predictable and adequate funding, technology transfer, capacity building, and lasting partnerships. No community, country, or region will be able to meet this challenge alone. Responding to rising sea levels requires solidarity, shared responsibility, and unity. In sum, it requires a renewed commitment to multilateralism. Excellencies, I am pleased to announce that Cabo Verde will continue to play its role as a useful, active, and constructive partner, working with all member states and other actors involved to ensure that this declaration delivers concrete results for those now impacted by the scourge and for the generations to come. Today, we are applauded for adopting the resolution. Tomorrow, we will be judged by our ability to implement it. Our children, grandchildren, and future generations deserve and expect from us more than mere words. They expect action and results from us to protect our common future. Thank you very much.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Cabo Verde. I now invite the Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, His Excellency, Tariq Rahman, to make a statement.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Mr. President, I thank you for convening this high-level meeting. I also thank the co-facilitators for their effort in carrying the declaration. Bangladesh is an active delta. Hundreds of rivers meet the sea through our land. Our people live close to the water. Our prosperity and future are tied to the coast. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, a 25 centimeter sea level rise could submerge around 4% of our land. This would mean the loss of homes, livelihoods, and human dignity for about 10 million people. Despite limited resources, we are doing our best to delay such a disastrous future. Among our other measures, we have built early warning system, strengthened cyclone preparedness, and invested in coastal protection. We are taking ambitious steps to strengthen climate resilience. Over the next five years, we aim to dig around 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals, advance the Padma Barrage initiative to retain and reserve water, modernize the Tista Barrage with a master plan, and plant 250 million trees. At the same time, we are pursuing green growth, targeting at least 20% renewable electricity by 2030, with emphasis on solar power, promoting green industries and eco-friendly transport, developing a national carbon market, and strengthening the protection of forest, wetlands, and vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Mr. President, the ocean reacts to every ton of carbon the world releases. Adaptation measures alone are not enough to address these effects. Therefore, we need to rethink the way we consume so that we reduce carbon emission into the environment. Vulnerable countries like Bangladesh cannot face the grave consequences of sea level rise alone. Global support and assistance are needed to redouble our efforts. We therefore call for four urgent actions. First, we must cut global emission faster, deeper, and more fairly. We must keep 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. Second, we must ensure predictable and accessible finance for adoption in climate-vulnerable countries. Third, we must expand access to climate smart technologies, data, and early warning systems for vulnerable coastal nations. Finally, we must strengthen international cooperation to address climate induced displacement, loss and damage, and ensure dignified pathway for communities displaced by sea level rise. Mr. President, the rise of fast The sea is rising fast. Our ambition must rise faster. We must act now to safeguard our future and the future of generations to come. I believe we will all come together, turn the promises of the declaration into action, and ensure that no nation is left behind to face the rising tide. Let our resolve rise with the sea, and let our action rise even faster. I thank you all.

I thank the Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. I understand that the Secretary-General has to leave at this time to attend to other urgent matters. On behalf of all delegations, I thank the Secretary-General very much for joining us today at the opening of this high-level meeting, which reflects his personal commitment to this very important issue. I now invite the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Legal Affairs, and Justice, Economic Planning, and Private Sector Development of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, his excellency Godwin Friday, to make a statement.

Thank you very much.

Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez.

Mr. President, Excellencies, friends, the issue of sea level rise goes to the heart of every citizen of my country.

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, sea level rise.

Is reshaping our coastlines, threatening fresh water resources, damaging infrastructure, disrupting livelihoods, and placing communities ecosystems, and cultural heritage under growing threat. We welcome the adoption of the declaration on sea level rise as a demonstration of political will. Today, we affirm what SIDS have long asserted, that this challenge is not simply environmental, but a developmental, economic, and humanitarian concern that requires and indeed demands collective action. The declaration in concert with the AOSIS Leaders Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood provides a foundation on which we must build to address the human and legal consequences of rising sea levels. We particularly underscore the important agreement on the stability of established maritime zones and the continuity of statehood in the face of climate-induced sea level rise. The maintenance of sovereignty, sovereignty rights, and lawful entitlements, as well as the preservation of identity and heritage, are consistent with international law. As we move forward, we must now ensure that resources are committed and there is accountability to move from decoration to delivery by 2030. Mister President, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is highly exposed. With approximately 85% of our population and more than 90% of our critical infrastructure. Concentrated along in our coastal belt. We have no time to lose. We need decisive action to pivot from reacting to loss to investing in resilience. Our national adaptation planning process is strengthening our approach by placing resilience at the center of national development with focus attention on vulnerable sectors, including water, agriculture, the coastal and marine environment and tourism. We are moving beyond isolated adaptation projects towards a more coordinated whole of government approach. Climate risk is being integrated into planning, investment, and decision making. But this challenge is larger than one island, than one country. Across the Caribbean, our economies, communities, cultures are deeply connected to the ocean. Tourism, fisheries, food systems, water security, transport, and livelihoods all depend upon healthy and resilient coastal and marine environments. It is therefore imperative that the 1.5 degree target be maintained to limit future risk. Yet, reports indicate that rising sea levels currently are doubling historical regional baselines in the Caribbean and exceeding global averages. In order to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure, adaptation is crucial, including the use of nature-based solutions that protect and restore mangroves, coral reefs, and other vital coastal ecosystems. Through regional cooperation, we are working to address vulnerable sectors, based on shared knowledge, data, and the best available science. There is, however, scope to improve how adaptation is financed. Climate finance must be accessible, adequate, predictable, and responsive to our unique needs. We can enhance regional partnerships to facilitate the mobilization of scaled-up technical and financial resources in alignment with the Antigua and Barbuda agenda for SIDS. CARICOM and the OECS and AOSIS all raise our collective voice to ensure that the special circumstances of small island developing states are reflected in international climate and development processes. Mr. President, we are determined to protect what we have built. safeguard our people and ecosystems, and ensure that development gains are not repeatedly erased by climate impacts, that we do not remain going up on the down escalator. But progressing from incremental adaptation to transformative resilience requires finance. The message from us is clear. Investing in resilience now is more cost effective than paying the far greater price for loss and damage later. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Caribbean will continue to do our part. We call on the international community to match our determination with the scale, speed, and predictability of support that this challenge demands. Thank you.

I thank the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Legal Affairs and Justice, Economic Planning and Private Sector Development of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. I now invite the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, His Excellency Feleti Teo, to make a statement.

Madam President, esteemed Heads of States and Heads of Government, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Two years ago, I had the honor of joining the President of the 79th session and the Secretary General in opening the first ever United Nations High Level Meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by sea level rise. I did so not only as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, but also as a representative of the one billion people living in countries and communities on the front line of one of the greatest challenges of our time. Today, it is both a privilege and a profound responsibility to return to this conference as we gather to take another important step forward in the international community's response to sea level rise. For those of us living in low-lying islands, atolls, coastal communities and delta regions, sea level rise is not a future threat or mere speculation. It is our present reality. It is already reshaping coastlines, contaminating freshwater resources, threatening food security, damaging infrastructure, and placing increasing strain on livelihood and economies. More fundamentally, it threatens our culture, our heritage, our identities, and for some nations like mine, our continued existence in the lands our ancestors have called home for generations. For Tuvalu and many other vulnerable countries, sea level rise is not simply an environmental issue. It is an existential threat. It affects every pillar of sustainable development, challenges conventional notion of adaptation, and raises profound questions relating to sovereignty, statehood, maritime zones, human mobility, and the preservation of identity and culture. Yet, despite contributing the least to global emissions, our countries continue to bear some of the gravest consequences of climate change. This is not only a climate challenge, it is a matter of justice. President, since the High-Level Meeting in 2024, Member States have worked diligently to develop a political declaration on sea level rise. That process has demonstrated that, despite our different perspectives and priorities, we can come together to address a challenge that transcends borders and generations. So, on behalf of Tuvalu and those most affected by the phenomena of sea level rise, the one billion people. I wish to express our sincere appreciations to all member states for their constructive engagement and commitment throughout these negotiations. I pay particular tribute to Australia and Cabo Verde for their exemplary leadership as co-facilitators. Through patience, inclusiveness, and determination, they have guided us towards a consensus outcome that reflect the urgency of the challenge and the spirit of multilateral cooperation. For countries most affected by sea level rise, this declaration carries profound significance. It recognized that sea level rise is not solely a matter of adaptation, It acknowledges the need to protect people, livelihood, cultures and heritage. It promotes stronger international cooperations on issues relating to maritime zones and rights established under international law. It contributes to efforts aimed at providing greater certainty regarding the continuity of statehood and sovereignty. and it underscores the importance of ensuring that vulnerable countries have access to the finance, technology, science, and partnerships needed to build resilience and plan for the future. These are issues that countries like Tuvalu have advanced consistently and tirelessly for many years. They are not abstract concept for us. They are fundamental to our survival and to our future. The measure of our success today will not be the words we endorse, but the action that will follow. The world needs adaptation at scale. It needs predictable and accessible finance. It needs stronger institutions, resilient infrastructure, better data, and enhanced scientific cooperation. Most importantly, it needs a renewed commitment to stand with those who are facing the greatest risk. For frontline countries like mine, adaptation is no longer a future priority. It is an immediate necessity. For every year of delay increases vulnerability, raises cost, and narrows the option available to those most exposed. As we prepare to endorse the political declaration today, let us also commit ourselves to its implementation. Let us ensure that these meetings mark not the end of a process, but the beginning of a new phase of collective action. The people of Tuvalu and the one billion of others living in low-lying islands and coastal communities around the world are looking to this assembly for leadership. Let us rise to that responsibility with urgency, solidarity and purpose. And I thank you. And as we say in Tuvalu, fafatai lassi.

I thank the Prime Minister of Tuvalu. I now invite the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, His Excellency Costas Cadis, to make a statement.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, sea level rise is no longer a future challenge. Around one in 10 people worldwide live in low-lying coastal areas. As it was already mentioned, many communities already face tangible changes and urgent questions. Coming myself from Cyprus, an island in the Western Mediterranean, in the Eastern Mediterranean, I know how profoundly these changes can affect coastal communities and ecosystems. Limiting global warming remains our first line of defense. At the same time, further sea level rise is unavoidable. This challenge extends beyond borders, and no country can tackle it alone. Effective international cooperation is therefore essential. It allows us to bring together knowledge, resources, and partnerships. And this is why yesterday, European Commission President von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Canada, Carney, launched the Global Ocean Alliance to support ocean observation. More than 30 countries already joined the alliance and pledged more than $250 million for a more comprehensive and effective global ocean observation system. This will, in no doubt, contribute to better monitor rising sea level. Now, we need to ask ourselves what needs to change between now and 2030. And I will highlight three main elements, how we plan, how we finance, and how we respond. First, we need to change how we plan. Sea level rise does not follow political cycles. The decisions we take today about where we build, where we invest, and how we develop our coasts will shape our exposure and resilience for decades to come. Long-term sea level projections need to inform our decisions on infrastructure, investment, and coastal development. And we should protect and restore nature as it helps us through wetlands, dunes, mangroves, and other coastal ecosystems. Second, we need to better finance adaptation. We need to move from one-off projects to long-term programs. Finance must be more predictable, more accessible, and better aligned with the needs of the countries and communities most at risk. The United Nations system, development banks, bilateral partners, climate funds, and the private sector should work together to avoid parallel processes and missed opportunities for synergies and greater impact. And third, our response must put people and communities first. Whether it is a city deciding where it is safe to build, or a government protecting its drinking water, or a coastal community deciding what may need to move, people need information they can use. And that means translating science into local risk assessments, stronger ocean and coastal observation, and effective early warning systems. It also means bringing together scientific, local, and traditional knowledge and involving communities in the decisions that shape their future. In some places, rising seas will force difficult choices about human mobility, planned relocation, identity, and culture. But in all cases, international law must remain the foundation of our collective response, as it provides the stability and predictability that we need. Excellencies, by 2030, success should mean that we are no longer responding on crisis by crisis basis, and that instead, long-term resilience is built into the way we plan, the way we invest, and the way we respond. Our cooperation must remain grounded in science, anchored in international law, and sustained through effective financing. Thank you.

I thank the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. I heard that the President of the General Assembly is now on his way to this room. So I kindly ask for your patience. I think we already have Fiji. Just a small pause, one, two minutes, and we will have His Excellency the President of the General Assembly with us.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, you have heard the last speaker on the list. And now allow me to read my statement in my capacity as the President of the General Assembly. Let me begin with a simple truth: Rising seas and not good for anyone, not for small island developing states, not for low-lying coastal communities, not for major cities, including this one right here, the city of New York. We all have a stake in protecting our people, our homes, our infrastructure, our economies, and indeed, our future. And the need for protection is urgent. Global mean sea level is rising at more than twice the rate observed during the first decade of satellite records, from 2.1 millimeters a year between 1993 and 2002 to 4.7 millimeters annually between 2015 and 2024. Around 900 million people live in low-lying coastal zones, and more than 1 billion people could be exposed to coastal hazards by 2050. The evidence is everywhere. On Canada's Prince Edward Island, record coastal erosion in 2022 showed how rapidly shorelines can be reshaped in a single year. In the twin islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, saltwater intrusion threatens freshwater aquifers on which communities depend. In Sao Tome and Principe, coastal erosion and salinization are already undermining livelihoods and infrastructure. And right here in New York City, sea levels are projected to rise up by 1.3 meters, 1.3 meters. By the end of the century, this basement might be underwater, my friend. And by far more in Antarctic ice melts as Antarctic ice melts rapidly. That's enough to turn our August assembly hall into a very large wading pool. Excellencies, sea level rise does not respect borders. It does not stop at north or south, developed or developing, rich or poor. It does not care about the size of our economies or the might of our militaries. But while the threat is shared, the burden is not. Countries with fewer resources and the least capacity to adapt, relocate, and rebuild are often those facing the greatest risks. For them, the future is already here, already happening now in front of our eyes. My own country, Bangladesh, knows this reality well. It sits in one of the world's largest and most densely populated river delta. A one-meter rise in sea level could inundate around 4,000 square kilometers of land, nearly 3% of the country's territory. And by 2050, climate impacts, including rising seas, could force more than 13 million people to move within the country. You have recently seen the heartbreaking flash floods in Nepal and China. So we are caught between rising sea and melting snow. And you know how it feels to be in that kind of a situation. The same reality confronts small island developing states. Between 1970 and 2020, SIDS lost 150 3 billion to a dollar to climate hazards, more than 10 times their average annual GDP. Behind these numbers are homes and livelihoods lost, communities uprooted or disappeared, cultural heritage endangered or lost, development gains reversed. And the impacts also extend far beyond the coast. Ports carry more than 80% of global merchandise trade, when sea level rise and coastal flooding disrupt ports, roads, power systems, supply chains, the effects are felt in food prices, medicines, jobs, and households, budgets worldwide. This is why prevention and preparedness are not optional. They are among the most cost-effective, humane, and responsible investments we can make. Excellencies, the General Assembly decision 78/558, enhancing action on sea level rise, committed member states to strengthening international cooperation and partnerships for comprehensive and effective responses to sea level rise. It also mandated this meeting and called for a concise, action-oriented, and intergovernmentally negotiated declaration. Our responsibility is clear, to ensure that today's political declaration becomes a practical path forward for delivery. That requires three things. First, political will. We must treat sea level rise as a defining development, humanitarian, economic, and security challenge, not as a distant environmental concern. We must improve cooperation. across climate action, disaster risk reduction, development finance, infrastructure planning, and human mobility. Second, science, data, and solutions. We already know much of what works. Resilient coastal infrastructure, restoration of mangroves, wetlands, and reefs, risk-informed land use planning, early warning systems, social protection, and locally-led adaptation. From coastal protection in the Nile Delta to land reclamation and resilience planning in Tuvalu to nature-based defenses in New York, communities are demonstrating that action is possible. The issue is no longer whether solutions exist. It is whether they are available to those who need them most at the scale and speed required. This brings me to my third and most important point. To succeed, we need the resources to deliver. And here, frankly, we have much further to go. Developing countries are estimated to need between $310 billion to $365 billion annually for adaptation by 2035. Yet international public adaptation finance flows to developing countries stood at just $26 billion in 2023. In other words, adaptation needs are 12 to 14 times greater than the current flows of resources. This gap is not merely a financing problem. It's a test of international solidarity. Many of the countries most at risk from sea level rise are also those most burdened by debt, disasters, and limited fiscal space. We must therefore make adaptation finance more predictable, accessible, concessional, especially for SIDS, LDCs, and low-lying coastal countries. We must support and adequately resource the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. We must pursue debt solutions that create fiscal space for resilience. Excellencies, at the 2014 Climate Summit, Marshall Islands poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner imagined what rising seas could mean for her infant daughter. They say, your daughter, and your granddaughter too. will wander rootless with only one passport to call home. Her words capture what statistics cannot. Sea level rise is ultimately about people, about our heritage, our identity, and the world we leave to our children and grandchildren. In adopting today's political declaration, the Assembly recognizes these many dimensions of sea level rise and, more importantly, the many faces behind them, from the Marshall Islands to Prince Edward Island, from my own Dhaka City to right here in New York. This declaration is a statement of shared responsibility and a promise to future generations. As we build on the desertification COP in Ulaanbaatar, and look ahead to the biodiversity and climate COPs in Yerevan and Antalya, the inaugural BBNJ COP in New York, and to the 2027 SDG Summit. Let us do right by our commitment with greater coordination, ambition, and dedication. This is the responsibility for us. Let us meet it together, jointly, all of us. I thank you. Now it's my pleasant duty to turn to the draft resolution entitled UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise. The text of this draft was transmitted by the President of the General Assembly at its 80th session, my predecessor, in a letter dated 20 August 2026. The concise and action-oriented political declaration has been developed through intergovernmental negotiations With intense outreach by the co-facilitators during the 80th session, I thank the co-facilitators. I would like to who are Her Excellency Tania Romualdo of Cabo Verde and His Excellency James Larsen of Australia, who demonstrated great ability and patience in guiding the discussions and complex negotiations on the draft resolution very successfully. So a clap to them. I will now put the draft declaration before the high level meeting for approval with a view to adoption of it at a subsequent formal plenary meeting of the General Assembly. May I take it that the high-level meeting wishes to approve the draft political declaration? I don't see any objection. So it is decided. The declaration is thus approved. We will proceed to the general debate now as soon as the podium is rearranged. I thank our eminent speakers once again for their participation, insightful interventions, and presence on the podium. order. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the general debate begins now. We shall hear statements in the general debate of the high-level meeting in accordance with paragraph 1C of the General Assembly decision 78/558. Before giving the floor to the first speaker, I would like to inform delegations that we have a very long list of inscriptions. The link of the live list of speakers is available on e-delegate and published in the event journal. As announced in my letter of 16 September 2026, the time of intervention will be limited to three minutes for individual delegations and five minutes for statements on behalf of a group of states. As also announced in the letter, in order to accommodate as many speakers as possible, and we have a long list, For each speaker, the floor will be given without the name and the title of the speaker. Delegations are advised that the time limits will be strictly enforced. Microphones will be automatically muted once the speaking time has elapsed. I appeal to all speakers to send their statements before the delivery to e-statements@icj.org. at un.org and to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to facilitate interpretation into the six official languages of our organization. Participants with longer statements are encouraged to deliver a shorter version of the text and to submit the full statements to e-statement@un.org. As announced in my letter, dated 17 September 2026, heads of state and heads of government will be invited to deliver their statements from the lectern. Other speakers will deliver their statements from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Palau, who will be speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, or AOSIS. You have the floor, sir.

Mr. President. Mr. President, Excellencies, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the 39 members of the Alliance of Small Island States that are especially affected by sea level rise. The states that are literally defined by the ocean around us, the impact of sea level rise will be life altering. It threatens the well-being of our peoples, communities, cultures, and ecosystems. What compounds these serious and irreversible impacts is the unfairness of the situation. The climate crisis is not of our making. SIDS have contributed almost nothing to this global scourge. However, today is a vital day for our islands and for the United Nations. Since the 1989 Male Declaration, small island developing states have been sounding the alarm on sea level rise. Since then, We have led the development of international law on this issue. Today's meeting represents a moment of international solidarity as all member states join SIDS on a path we have charted. With today's adoption of the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise, all member states have for the first time agreed on a single common text on sea level rise. This is a genuine achievement. The declaration matters because it touches the many aspects of sea level rise. It puts data, science, and knowledge, including traditional knowledge, at the foundation of our response. It recognizes the urgent need for finance, for adaptation and resilience. And it speaks to the livelihoods, to populations, to culture and heritage. And it commits this body to keep sea level rise on its agenda. On maritime zones, the declaration affirms that maritime zones, once established in accordance with UNCLOS, are stable. This is in line with the interpretation that AOSIS has advanced for years. As AOSIS and many others have also advanced, UNCLOS does not obligate states to update the baselines and outer limits of their maritime zones. The rights and entitlements that flow from their zones continue to apply without reduction. notwithstanding any physical changes connected to sea level rise. On statehood, the declaration underscores continued statehood in the face of sea level rise, as well as our continued sovereignty, sovereign rights, and membership of the United Nations. Once a state is established, the loss of its constituent elements because of sea level rise does not mean a loss of statehood. Our nations are permanent members of this community of nations. The declaration affirms a number of widely held interpretations of international law. These interpretations were confirmed by the International Court of Justice and by the International Law Commission. and by our consistent and overwhelming practice as states. Mr. President, for AOSIS, this declaration is a step in a decades-long process.

But it is far from the end of our journey.

Today, this Assembly has spoken with one voice, and it is a momentous occasion. We will continue to work with all to advance our collective efforts to address sea level rise. Ms. Ulan and I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Palau, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.

Mr. President, nearly four decades ago, the MODUS brought the consequences of rising seas to the attention of this Assembly. In 1989, that advocacy led us to convene small island states in Mali and adopt the Mali Declaration on Global Warming and Sea Level Rise. The warning was clear then, and it is more urgent today. For Rising seas affect infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, ecosystems, and development itself. But our answer cannot be retreat. It must be resilience. That calls for action in three areas. First, adaptation must be financed at scale. For SIDS, finance must be predictable, accessible, grant-based, and concessional. Access must be fast and simpler. For the Maldives and other low-lying island states, funding must reach early enough to reduce risk. Sea level rise is already causing damage in the Maldives and other states, affecting our livelihoods and infrastructure. We cannot address what cannot be measured. This is why a sea level rise observation mechanism is important. Second, international law must provide certainty. Rising seas must not undermine the rights and entitlements of states. Lawfully established baselines and maritime zones must remain stable and they must continue. Statehood and sovereignty cannot be challenged by sea level rise. UN membership must continue. These principles must guide international cooperation. Geography may change, legal identity must not. Third, we must build resilience into development itself. Sea level rise must inform how we design infrastructure, plan our economies, and protect livelihoods. The Maldives is already integrating these measures into national planning through our third NDC. We call development partners to help countries to scale up such investments. Nearly four decades of demand sustained attention. We must turn today's commitments into action that strengthens resilience and safeguards our future. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Maldives and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Excellencies, Secretary General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to begin my brief remark by thanking the President of the Republic of Palau, who is also the chairman of our AOSIS Alliance, and I want to thank him for his report on behalf of the organization. Micronesia speaks today from the frontline of a rapidly unfolding reality. Sea level rise is not a distant projection for us. It is a present and accelerating threat to our islands, our peoples, and our cultures. Saltwater intrusion is contaminating our freshwater lands on our islands, eroding shorelines, damaging food systems, and making places our grandparents lived increasingly uninhabitable. Today, for the first time, the United Nations as a whole addresses sea level rise squarely, particularly its effects, how to respond to those effects, and what international law says in connection with those effects. The declaration we are adopting today is a critical one, but it must not be the last work done on it by this body. Micronesia reiterates its unwavering commitment to international cooperation and to constructive engagement across all relevant UN processes to address sea level rise. At the same time, We must ensure that any emerging frameworks, sea level rise are consistent with established norms, rules, and principles of international law, including with respect to the preservation of maritime zones and continuity of statute, as well as protection of persons. The 2021 and 2023 declaration by the leaders of the Pacific Island Forum and of the Alliance of Small Island States on those matters remain the normative views of Micronesia. We look forward to progressing the development and implementation of international law on these matters in the years to come. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Federated States of Micronesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Sea level rise is no longer a distant threat. It is already affecting communities, economies, and ecosystems across the world. For Tanzania, this is both a climate and development challenge. Our Indian Ocean coastline, including Zanzibar and other island communities, supports fisheries, tourism, trade, and millions of livelihoods. Coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and flooding threaten our people, infrastructure, and development gains. Mr. President, Tanzania is responding by strengthening coastal protection, restoring mangroves and coastal ecosystems, improving water security, and advancing locally led adaptation. But national action alone is not enough. Those contributing least to climate change are often bearing its greatest consequences. Tanzania, therefore, welcomes the declaration on sea level rise and supports its adaptation by consensus. We must now translate its commitments into action. Finance must reach those on the front line. Climate finance must be adequate, predictable, and accessible. particularly from developing countries and vulnerable coast communities. We must invest in stronger early warning systems, climate data, resilient infrastructure, technology, and nature-based solutions. Adaptation must go hand in hand with ambitious mitigations. We cannot adapt indefinitely to an ocean that continues to rise. We must accelerate emission reduction and fully implement the Paris Agreement. Tanzania stands in solidarity with small island developing states and other vulnerable nations. International cooperation must safeguard the rights, dignity, and livelihoods of affected populations and provide legal certainty in accordance with international law. Let this declaration turn commitments into financing, vulnerability into resilience, and solidarity into action. Let the ocean connect us. Its rising waters must also unite us. Thank you very much. In Kiswahili, we say, "Asante sana.".

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Monaco.

Madam.

President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, sea level rise is a reality. It is not a far off prospect. It is not abstract. It's measurable. It's accelerating. And it is already transforming the lives of millions of people. It threatens coastal regions, ecosystems, infrastructure and economies. For SIDS, sea level rise might even render some regions unlivable. It affects livelihoods, crops and with time it could affect the territorial continuity of some states. This reality is of concern to all of us because sea level rise is the symptom of a planetary imbalance. It reminds us of what's true, that we all share the same ocean, and therefore we all share a responsibility. The declaration we're adopting today is therefore an important political commitment. It reaffirms that our response must be underpinned by science, multilateral cooperation, and international law. At the behest of His Royal Highness Prince Albert II, Monaco has decided to make science the focus of its environmental action. The Principality of Monaco hosts the International Hydrographic Organization and supports the development of a General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans, GEBCO. But beyond that, we believe that we need to invest in resilient coastal infrastructure, preserve marine and coastal infrastructure, and mobilize funding, in particular for the most vulnerable states. We should also guarantee legal stability and certainty. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement provide us with the multilateral legal framework that we need to mount this collective response. Madam President, the declaration that brings us together today should not be a finish line. It is, in fact, a starting point. It is now time to implement it. We must swiftly reduce our emissions, and significantly so, anticipate the consequences of what's happening, and bolster our capacity to protect our people. And above all, no state can address sea level rise on its own. Monaco will continue to shoulder its part of the effort. In May of last year, we organized an important event on this. And faced with sea level rise, we have a choice: prepare for the future or to simply see the unavoidable unfold. Let's ensure that sea level rise is not a fatality, but a call to action. It is today that we must mount a response. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Monaco.

Floor to the distinguished representative of Malta.

Thank you, President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Malta welcomes the adoption of the Political Declaration on Sea Level Rise as an important expression of our joint and collective determination to address one of the most profound challenges facing the international community. UNEP's limiting overshoot report underscores the urgency of immediate action. Even if temperatures subsequently decline, sea level rise will continue due to the slow response of oceans and ice sheets. For island and low-lying coastal states, like my country, This is not merely an environmental or developmental challenge, but one that fundamentally affects sovereignty, statehood, maritime rights, nationality, and the protection of our peoples. Malta's dedicated 2023 event on sea level rise as a threat to global peace and security was motivated by these concerns. and we are pleased that they have now acquired global recognition in this declaration. Malta has long upheld continuity of statehood, stability of maritime zones, and self-determination, which are critical for peaceful international relations. Malta believes that the resilience of international law lies in its ability to respond to humanity's contemporary needs. Sea level rise presents an unprecedented challenge and also an opportunity to states to build on the ILC's work and the advisory opinions of the ICJ and ITLOS, ensuring that international law remains fit for purpose and continues to protect our peoples. We must now move from identifying the legal challenges to developing practical solutions by building on this work and developing practical recommendations or principles to safeguard the continuity of statehood in the face of sea level rise. Malta had raised climate change as a matter of common concern of mankind at the United Nations as early as 1988. Today, we remain committed to ensuring that the international legal order protects.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malta and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Namibia.

The threat of the sea level rise is no longer a distance projection, but a reality to all of us. It's reshaping countries, threatening lives, livelihood, and ecosystem, and placing immense pressure on sustainable development. Namibia's marine ecosystem is among the most productive globally, supported by the Benguela Current large marine ecosystem. However, rising ocean temperature, changing ocean chemistry, shifting fish stock, and declining marine productivity threaten the sector's sustainability. The Walvis Bay Harbour is located One of the three is located one to three meters above mean sea level. It's a gateway to regional and international trade market. By the rising level affect our transport infrastructure, marine resources, biodiversity, and the livelihood of the coastal communities. Therefore, substantial investment in coastal protection and climate-resilient infrastructure are required to safeguard trade, investment, employment and competitiveness. Namibia calls for a more ambitious, equitable and adequate financial global response recognizing developing countries' diverse vulnerability, and translating international commitment into tangible action. Climate justice must ensure that countries with the greatest contribution to climate change should scale up and support economies that contribute the least to climate change. International climate finance, adaptation, finance and the loss of damage fund must be adequately resourced, operational, predictable and accessible to climate vulnerable countries. Namibia's commitment to the coastal nation is a moral imperative and a shared global responsibility. Let us strengthen international cooperation accelerate climate action, support adaptation, and ensure that no nation is left behind. It's because of this belief we have made it possible as a country that our landlocked neighbors, we give them the dry land port in our countries so that they are we must save our planet. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Papua New Guinea.

Thank you, moderator. It is my honor and privilege to be here on behalf of Papua New Guinea. This is my seventh year coming in and out of United Nations. climate change conversation has always been at the forefront. Unfortunately, action has been minimal. Papua New Guinea is not here to beg. We are a big maritime nation. We were amongst the first to experience climate change refugees, to a violence The Madlock and Catras Island were first to relocate, but unfortunately they wanted to go back to the island home, and they're now back in the island homes. Sea level rise is here, amidst us. We just have to act now. Enough of talking. For Papua New Guinea, we'd like to propose three or four solutions. Firstly, let's minimize our carbon footprint. All who have carbon footprints, it is in our collective interest to minimize carbon footprint. migrate away from fossil fuel to clean energy is a step in the right direction. My second recommendation, those multilateral lenders offer concessional lending to those who need assistance. We don't beg for grant and aid. We have enough economy to grow economy for the accommodation or third accommodation by our products. For those in the maritime nations, especially my brothers and sisters in the Pacific, substantial fisheries resources, bio products. We could sustain ourselves in the Pacific. We have a Pacific Resilience Fund facility. Those who claim to be friends of the Pacific support the Pacific Resilience Fund facility, and we will help ourselves. We have proposed something that is to reclaim land, to value is reclaiming land, that the small island states are reclaiming land. We want to support ourselves. As is the economies, when the economies are stronger, we could support ourselves. And I want to say, climate change is here to stay. Let's find solutions to adapt with it. And I go back to my first statement, and it will be my concluding statement this morning. Stop carbon emissions. When we stop carbon emissions, we make our planet a safer, secure. There is only one planet for all of us. rich or poor, big or small, powerful or not powerful, doesn't matter. One planet Earth. We destroy the planet, then we're passing a bad planet to our children. May God bless planet Earth.

I thank the distinguished representative of Papua and New Guinea. Pursuant to PGA's letter dated 17 September 2026, the next speakers, below heads of state and heads of government, will deliver their statements from the national seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Moldova.

Distinguished delegates, today we come together under the sign of a global emergency that transcends borders and nations.

A challenge that affects us all, climate change and the devastating consequences of rising sea levels. In the face of these existential threats, solidarity and concerted action are more important than ever. Sea level rise is not a distant projection. For many countries and communities, it is already a daily reality that threatens homes, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and in some cases, the very continuity of statehood. While the Republic of Moldova is not directly exposed to sea level rise, we are increasingly affected by another dimension of the same climate crisis, prolonged drought, water scarcity, and growing pressure on freshwater ecosystems. Sea level rise and droughts may affect different geographical areas, but they reveal the same underlying reality.

Water security, climate stability, sustainable economic development are inseparable.

Our rivers connected to the Black Sea remind us that the environmental responsibility flows across borders from upstream communities to coastal and marine ecosystems. Protecting the ocean therefore requires an integrated approach that links climate action, transboundary water cooperation, biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and disaster risk management.

The Republic of Moldova is committed to contributing to the common effort.

Through our third national determined contribution, we have strengthened our climate ambitions while advancing national adaptation planning closer alignment with the European climate and environmental framework. Although Moldova is a landlocked country, we recognize that ocean is assured global responsibility. In 2026, our country ratified the agreement under the UN Convention on Law of the Sea and Conservation and Sustained Use of Marine Biodiversity.

And.

Areas of national jurisdiction, reaffirming its commitment to the conservation and sustained use of marine biology diversity beyond national jurisdictions. Through cross-border cooperation and international commitments, we strive to find sustainable solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the environment, and ensure prosperous future for our citizens. It is time to reaffirm our commitment to the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the European Green Deal to work together to create a safer and more resilient world for future generations. The recent pollution incident affecting the River Dnister has once again demonstrated how rapidly an environment emergency can acquire transborder implications. The response in Moldova strengthened the monitoring of water quality, mobilized the relevant national institutions, carried out systematic sampling, laboratory analysis, and ensured the exchange of information needed to assess risk to ecosystems and.

Public health.

Moldova has also activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, benefiting from the solidarity, expertise, and rapid assistance.

I thank the distinguished representative of Moldova. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein.

We in Liechtenstein believe that the rule of law protects every nation on an equal footing. And no state is more aware of the need for the rule of law than a small state whose territory is at risk of being inundated. whose people are losing their homes, the islands that anchor their blue ocean state to dry land. Sea level rise is a clear demonstration of the inequities of climate change and of the international system. Like all the other problems we face, we can only address it by taking concerted and collective action. In the first instance, that means cutting carbon emissions as fast as possible. It also means standing up for international law and for the rule of law, for making that the basis of our cooperation. No state should ever be at risk of losing their ability to speak for its people, especially those who have contributed the least to the causes of sea level rise. Liechtenstein strongly believes that under all, including the most extreme circumstances, all affected countries and states retain the right to self-determination. And as part of that right, we must strongly presume the continuity of statehood. It also means that those affected must have the opportunity to take further steps, including the fixing of their maritime baselines and zones. We appreciate that the International Court of Justice in its recent advisory opinion addressed both of these issues. Fundamentally, states and peoples have the right to determine their own destiny. As was said at the ECJ over 50 years ago, it is for the people to determine the destiny of the territory and not the territory the destiny of the people. Co-Chair, given the existential stakes of sea level rise, Liechtenstein is pleased that we have been able to adopt today's historic outcome document. Today's declaration sets out in one place our collective commitments to those most immediately affected by sea level rise. We highlight paragraph 21 in particular, which in the name of legal stability, certainty and predictability affirms the presumption of continued statehood and sovereignty, including membership of this organization. No state will be forced to turn off their nameplate without their consent due to sea level rise. Of course, today's declaration is only a beginning. Now it is time to put our commitments into practice. We urge all member states to recommit to action on level rise in service of international law and of the collective conscious of humanity. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Samoa.

Pacific greetings. We welcome the UN declaration on sea level rise. While the forecast for sea level rise for the future vary, we know that its impact will not stop anytime soon. The loss of land will continue and eventually some islands may be fully submerged. This is the image that people often talk about when they refer to sea level rise. But we know that the impacts on our countries are felt long before that. Water lenses disappear. Salt water intrudes into arable land. Populations are forced to move inland. Coastal infrastructure is destroyed. Life becomes more difficult for our citizens and more challenging and expensive for governments to respond to. This is where adaptation strategy, access to finance and resilience need financial partnership and cooperation to address the risk and challenges of sea level rise. While small island states can attempt to adapt, we must remember that sea level rise is a symptom of the larger climate crisis. The only solution to sea level rise is to mitigate climate change. That requires urgent, extensive, and concerted action by all states, but especially those that have and are contributing the most of the climate crisis. Seats have been sounding the alarm since 1989, when we adopted the Mayor Declaration on Global Warming and Sea Level Rise. Over the past decade, we have taken several additional steps. The leaders of AOSIS and the Pacific Island Forum have made three declaration and taken significant national action to secure maritime zones. In 2024, Samoa formally declare under the AOSIS declaration on sea level rise and statehood, that the statehood and sovereignty of SIDS and their membership in international organization will continue, notwithstanding the impacts of climate change related sea level rise. Our interpretation of international law with respect to maritime zones is becoming the accepted interpretation. SIDS continue to define our collective way forward on climate change and sea level rise in a manner that respects international law, fairness, and equity. This declaration is a clear manifestation of the enduring value of the UN in addressing global challenges. Thank you, Fa'apitai.

I thank the distinguished representative of Samoa. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Silver rise is not a projection confined to a graph or model. For Saint Kitts and Nevis, it is evident in eroding coastlines. The salinization of water resources and the loss of land or families have farmed for generation. The mountain question is, what does permanence mean when the ocean withdraws our geography? This is the lived threat this session has been convened to address. Yet, existential threats demands more than existential language. For small island developing states, this is not simply a matter of refining adaptation policy. It is a matter of survival. Our countries need concrete international commitments backed by legal protection and resources of oceanic and low-lying states can use. St. Kitts and Nevis joins our Caribbean and Pacific partners in affirming a principle that should not require restating yet still does. Statehood, sovereignty, and maritime entitlements must not be diminished by physical efforts of sea level rise. A nation's legal personality cannot depend on a climate it did not destabilize. We welcome the support the urgent work within international law to secure permanent baseline and maritime entitlements, so that no ocean nation loses rights because the sea has moved where its people have not. This is not technical. It is about the continuity of our nation. Beyond the legal protections, our people need practical means to adapt in place where viable and with dignity. This means sustained investment in coastal protection and, where necessary, managed retreat planned with affected communities, never imposed upon them. We support the call for regional early warning system tailored to the different needs of coastal, low lying and at all nations. No single approach can serve every shoreline. Commitments on loss and damage must move from agreement to timely disbursement, reaching our shores before the next irreversible loss. and access to climate finance for coastal protection must be simpler, faster, and fit for purpose. A generation for now when today's erosion may have become tomorrow's irreversible. I will do everything possible to save our right to nation.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis. I now give the floor to the European Union on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I have the pleasure of speaking on behalf of the European Union and its 27 member states. Allow me first to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting and Australia and Cabo Verde for their leadership in facilitating the negotiations of the declaration on sea level rise. As the declaration underlines, sea level rise is no longer a distant prediction. It is a reality. Around the world, coastlines are retreating, freshwater resources are becoming saline, and ecosystems are under increasing pressure. For many small island developing states, low-lying coastal states, and communities in the Arctic, sea level rise is already affecting livelihoods, infrastructure, and cultural heritage, with serious implications for human security, stability, and sustainable development. The European Union and its member states stand in solidarity with all those already living with these consequences. What we should do first is to address the root cause, climate change. This requires ambitious mitigation action and multilateral cooperation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Every fraction of a degree matters. The choices we make today will shape the scale of sea level rise for generations. Second, we must prepare for impacts that can no longer be avoided and strengthen the resilience of our coasts and communities. This means improving early warning systems, advancing adaptation planning, investing in resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions. Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems are themselves a vital source of resilience. In the European Union, we are advancing these priorities through the European Ocean Pact and through our strategies for islands and coastal communities aimed at strengthening climate resilience, protecting marine ecosystems, and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Third, our response must be grounded in the best available science. The work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change remains central. Reliable observations, robust climate projections, and accessible data are essential for informed decision making. Through OceanEye, our new initiative to strengthen ocean observation and knowledge, the EU is stepping up its contribution to ocean science. Yesterday, together with Canada, we launched a global alliance to strengthen ocean observation worldwide and help us better anticipate and respond to ocean change, including sea level rise. Excellencies, sea level rise also raises important legal questions. The European Union and its member states remain firmly committed to international law and to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework governing the ocean. Legal certainty, stability, and predictability must remain at the heart of our collective response. In this context, we recall the important contributions of the International Law Commission's final report on sea level rise and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of states in respect of climate.

Change.

Responding to sea level rise cannot fall on the most affected countries alone. The European Union and its member states will continue working with all partners to strengthen the resilience, support adaptation, and safeguard our shared ocean for present and future generations. Thank you.

I thank the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM.

Madam Chair, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 14 member states of the Caribbean community. Sea level rise is a global phenomenon that is accelerating with direct implications for more than one third of the international community. and significant implications for all member states. With the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise, the international community recognizes climate change driven sea level rise as a matter of international concern and affirms that our response must be grounded in science and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Importantly for the Caribbean, it sends a clear message, climate change does not erase a state's rights diminish its territorial integrity, nor extinguish the dignity and self-determination of its people. For CARICOM and other small island developing states, this is fundamental. Climate change-driven sea level rise is not a distant projection.

It is a lived and worsening reality.

In the Caribbean region, the average sea level is expected to rise by 1.4 meters.

By the end of the century.

Translating into five millimeters of sea level rise every year. The rise in sea level could impact coastal communities of the Caribbean if they are less.

Than three meters above the sea.

In many parts of our region, inhabited land rises scarcely one meter above sea level. While much of our population, critical infrastructure, and economic activities concentrated along vulnerable coastlines.

The sea is not merely approaching our doorsteps. It is already there.

Eroding our shores, salinizing our fresh water sources.

And soils, and steadily claiming the land on which our communities, livelihoods, and identities depend. It is estimated that a 0.5 meter rise in sea level will result in 38% of beach loss in the Caribbean, which could impact up to 47% of direct tourism revenue by 2100. Roads, airports, and portlands are also at risk of inundation, potentially leading to significant economic and functional disruption. We therefore welcome the declaration's recognition of the stability of maritime zones and the continuity of states would notwithstanding climate-induced sea level rise.

These are not technical matters.

They are safeguards for sovereignty, security, livelihoods, and identity. This declaration must therefore translate our commitments into concrete, and sustained action. First, we need a framework for protecting people, especially those directly and most severely affected.

It should be one that defines the responsibilities.

Of affected and receiving states, creates pathways for cross-border movement, supports those who remain, and guarantees self-determination. Second, we need finance equal to the challenge.

Irreversible loss and damage cannot be concealed within adaptation.

Adequate funding must be secured through public and private sources to support the long-term implementation of the integrated plans, including support to build and share capacity. Support must be timely, predictable, accessible, and grant-based, not another source of debt.

Third.

We need coherent cooperation across the climate, ocean, human rights, and developmental systems to create a sustainable and integrated ocean and coastal management plan. Sea level rise crosses institutional boundaries. Our response must do the same. Beyond our political recognition of the issue of sea level rise, this declaration must usher in an era of solidarity, in an era which solidarity becomes implementation, law becomes protection, and international cooperation secures the future of every state and all people threatened by the rising sea. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Norway.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Dear Excellencies, colleagues, friends of the ocean, Norway aligns itself with the declaration and thanks the facilitators and member states for their efforts throughout this process. Norway is an ocean nation with a strong record on responsible resource management and investment in sustainable ocean economy. The science is clear. Sea level rise is no longer a distant threat. It is already affecting lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems around the world. For many small island developing states and low-lying coastal communities, it is an existential challenge. Driven by human-induced climate change, the crisis requires urgent collective action. Current efforts are not enough. No country will be untouched by catastrophic sea level rise. Knowledge and data are key to addressing sea level rise and ensuring sustainable ocean management. Norway therefore place a high priority on investing in these areas. I encourage others to do the same. Sea level rise also raises important questions for the international system, including maritime zones, statehood, human rights and international cooperation. In addressing these issues, we must continue to be guided by international law. Norway firmly believes that maritime zones established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea cannot be lost due to sea level rise caused by climate change. In our view, There are strong legal grounds for concluding that this already follows from established international law. We also need stronger adaptation efforts, climate finance, scientific cooperation and support for those countries most affected. I reaffirm Norway's commitment to continue to contribute along several avenues to help the people most affected by sea level rise. By climate action, by financial contributions, and by legal deliverables. Let us move forward with urgency, solidarity, and determination.

Today's declaration is an important step in that direction.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a kingdom where the sea meets on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In the European part of the Kingdom, centuries of living below sea level has shaped the Netherlands. In the Caribbean, Curacao, Aruba, St. Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba face a different reality, but the same immediate threat. Our people, infrastructure, and economies are concentrated along vulnerable coastlines. Beaches are retreating. ecosystems are under pressure and the risk of flooding, erosion, and storm surges continue to grow. Across Aruba, Curacao, and Saint Martin, sea levels are projected to rise by approximately 20 centimeters by 2050 and between 50 and 80 centimeters by 2, 100. Depending on future gas house gas greenhouse gas emissions. Near Saint Martin, Sea levels have already been rising at approximately 3.1 centimeters per decade. For a small island developing state, this threatens critical infrastructure, including the airport, hospital, and even our capital, assets essential to the island's safety, economy, and resilience. As such, sea level rise is not an abstract projection. It concerns our homes, livelihood, culture, and way of life. We therefore welcome the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise. The science is clear, and our response must match the urgency of this challenge. The Kingdom stands ready to share our knowledge of water management, coastal protection and freshwater security. In Curacao and Aruba and Saint Martin, we are providing, we are producing drinking water from the sea for centuries. As a man of the sea and a son of a fisherman, I know its beauty, its power, and its livelihood it sustains. However, I I I also know its fury and particularly the during storms. The sea is patient. It takes a little more each year. And what it takes, it does not easily return. We cannot afford to be patient in return. Madam Chair, I thank you.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland.

Excellency, Chair, Madame Caberveld, the United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of the UN declaration on sea level rise and thanks Australia and Caberveld for their leadership as co-facilitators. For many countries represented in this room, sea level rise is not a distinct threat, it is a present reality. A reality that affects homes, livelihoods and the future of entire communities. This declaration, the first United Nations membership-wide political response on sea level rise, has shown that the international community can come together to address one of the greatest challenges of our time. Today's adoption is a visible demonstration of international support for communities most vulnerable to its impacts. The United Kingdom welcomes the declaration's grounding in the best available science and its recognition of the risks posed by sea level rise. We also welcome its focus on adaptation, resilience and practical co-operative action. Throughout these negotiations, the United Kingdom has worked constructively towards a balanced outcome that supports the priorities of small island developing states while protecting important principles on climate governance, finance and international law. We welcome the continued primacy of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris agreement. The United Kingdom recognises the importance of the legal dimensions of sea level rise, including continuity of statehood and maritime zones. We reaffirm the importance of implementing international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Low-lying states are facing an urgent and unprecedented threat from rising sea levels. That is why we have recently announced a significant change in policy, with a starting point to continue to recognise statehood whether a state lost some or even all of its land to sea level rise. We will ensure we consider the circumstances in each case, including the wishes of the people of the affected state. And the United Kingdom's 330 million pounds pledge to the ninth replenishment of the global environment facility that the Foreign Secretary announced this week is a further demonstration of our commitment to action. This is new funding will help the GEF continue to address global challenges, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing biodiversity loss, with increased support for vulnerable SIDS and LDCs. Today's declaration is an important step. The task now is to turn shared commitment into practical action. The communities most affected by sea level rise deserve nothing less. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belgium.

Thank you, Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Belgium aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union. Sea level rise is not a distant threat. It's already happening. It's affecting communities, ecosystems, economies, and entire nations, as already stated by colleagues this morning.

The message from science is clear.

Sea level rise is a direct consequence of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. If we want to slow it down, we must accelerate climate action. And that is why Belgium and the European Union are firmly committed to clean energy transition. We see it as the most effective way to reduce emissions while strengthening energy security and competitiveness.

The world is expected to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming.

Yet, every fraction of a degree matters.

Limiting the overshoot and returning to that level as soon as possible must remain our collective ambition. The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat generated by climate change. This contributes to ocean warming, acidification, changing weather patterns, and rising sea levels. Science must remain at the heart of our response. Better observations, better climate data, and effective early warning systems.

Are essential to strengthen resilience.

Belgium is proud to be the second largest contributor to the Systematic Observation Financing Facility, helping close critical weather and climate data gaps and improving preparedness worldwide. The ocean is not only a victim of climate change, it's also part of the solution. In the run-up to COP31, Belgium and Fiji co-facilitated the work on ocean and climate.

To integrate ocean-based solutions into climate policy and to turn commitments into action. Belgium contributes through offshore renewable energy, oyster reef restoration and the protection of marine habitats. The entry into force of the BBNJ agreement is therefore a major milestone. Protecting biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction strengthens ocean resilience and supports global climate objectives.

Belgium has long been a strong supporter of an ambitious BBNJ agreement and the global goal to.

Protect 30% of the ocean.

As part of that commitment, Belgium is honored to be a candidate to host the BBNJ secretariat. Sea level rise is a global challenge that demands a global response.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji.

Fiji aligns with the statement delivered by Palau on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States. In our national capacity, we welcome the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise. Thank you for convening this high-level event, which is a stark reminder of humanity's race towards innovation for the sake of development. But in the cause, the realization of nature's harm, now a lived reality and irreversible impacts of climate change related sea level rise encountered by small island developing states. Simultaneously, Chair, this convening prompts us that through multilateralism and cooperation amongst member states, a resolution is achievable, but the time to act is now. As climate change champion, Fiji is anxious of inaction, hence the motivation that drives our advocacy journey to join other states in presenting our case at the International Court of Justice on the obligation of states in respect of climate change. The one common denominator, backed by scientific evidence, is that SIDS contribute less than 1% of the global greenhouse gas emissions and yet suffer the brunt of the actions committed by others. As a sovereign state guided by the rules and principles of international law, Fiji is obligated to the treaties and convention it ratifies. Amongst others is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Article 3 states, "Everyone has a right to life, liberty, and security of person." As leaders, our responsibility includes the protection of the inalienable rights of our people, enjoyment of their freedom, and a secure future in their own country of origin. This responsibility has guided Fiji's actions in relocating our people to higher ground, and assisting our neighboring Pacific countries on climate mobility, And inaction would be to our own detriment. Hence, our commitment to protecting our people and that of our Pacific neighbors is guided by Fiji's foreign policy white paper. And despite being the least emitters of global greenhouse gases, Fiji continues its commitments to meeting global targets and delivering to its declared nationally determined contributions. The Pacific leaders have spoken and are committed in addressing climate change-related sea level rise by reaffirming in Koror, Palau, at the recently concluded 55th Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting, our continued collective advocacy to protecting the rights, interests, sovereignty, and future of Pacific peoples in the face of climate change-related sea level rise. The referenced Pacific Leaders Declaration woven into the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise is living proof that we won't stop advocating for what matters most to us. However, we won't achieve our purpose without the assistance of the international community. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Fiji. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you very much. It's an honour to follow my colleague from Fiji. Rising seas are no longer a warning for the future. They are a live reality for millions of people around the world, which is why we gather here today. Because sea level rise is a challenge no nation can meet alone. We share the oceans and we share responsibility for their futures. And no region has done more to bring the world's attention to this than the Pacific. The Pacific has spoken with moral authority and the weight of lived experience to push global ambition forward. Pacific leaders have shown the world that those on the front line of climate change are not waiting to be spoken for. They have led, they have organised, and they have challenged all of us to match the climate crisis with action. So we must all answer their call to face the challenges of sea level rise and preserve dignity, rights and future choices of those affected. This includes states' rights to maintain their maritime zones in the face of sea level rise. In 2024, Tuvalu and Australia recognised for the first time, for the first time in a legally binding treaty, full sovereignty of Tuvalu's territory irrespective of sea level rise. This principle was confirmed by Pacific leaders, and now this principle is in paragraph 20 of this new UN declaration, which Australia was proud to co-lead with Cabo Verde. Through this declaration, the international community has built a new framework for meeting sea level rise head on, a framework that reinforces the crucial role of international law, including UNCLOS. So our next steps must be to put this declaration into action. Australia remains committed to the Paris Agreement and is taking ambitious action to reduce emissions and transition to net zero by 2050. And as COP31 President of negotiations, we seek to advance practical, scalable and investable ocean climate action. In partnership, we will deliver the pre-COP in Fiji and Tuvalu, demonstrating firsthand the impacts of climate change and sea level rise alongside adaptation, resilience, and climate leadership. Because those most affected by climate change must help shape the response. Strengthened cooperation on ocean stewardship and climate action is not only an environmental imperative, it is an investment, an investment in peace, and instability, and most importantly, in a more resilient future for all nations. I thank you.

Australia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.

Thank you. On behalf of the State of Israel, thank you for holding this important meeting. I would like to begin by praying for the recovery of the son of Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, who was injured yesterday in a terrorist attack in Israel. I want to pray for the well-being of Neria Dov Ben-Hana Leiter. After a number of speeches by leaders in this building in recent days, it is clear that this building must come out and condemn terrorism and stand by the only democracy in the Middle East. Sea level rise is no longer a future danger. It is present global reality that calls for swift, joint, and science-based action. Countries now face growing risk, including to key infrastructure, food supply chain, and access to fresh water, and of course, to coastal communities. The heaviest and immediate risks falls on small island developing state. They face risks to their cultural heritage, land, and very existence. Sea level rise is a risk around the world, All nations must get ready and must work together to share knowledge at regional and global levels. Israel is also facing these risks along our Mediterranean and Red Sea shores and acts to mitigate these effects. Led by Ministry of Environmental Protection, Israel's national climate change Adaptation Administration set a national reference scenario showing 1.06 meter rise in the Mediterranean by the end of the century, following the high emission climate models. We're always improving our long-term dynamic weather models for both Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea. To turn science into law and policy, Israel is now carrying out a national mapping project of Israel's Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts. The results will form the technical base for the Israelis' protection of the coastal environmental law. Today's effort will allow planning bodies to protect tomorrow's coastal open land and groundwater, improve resilience of cities and coastal infrastructure, and defend unique historic sites from erosion and flooding. excellencies. Adopting a faster sea level rise means closing the gap between scientific knowledge, strong governance, and global cooperation. Israel is ready to share knowledge in risk assessment, coastal management,

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cote d'Ivoire.

Madame President, ladies and gentlemen, Cote d'Ivoire hails the holding of this high-level event on existential threats related to the rise of the sea levels, which is a fundamental economic issue. Madame President, ocean, in addition to being an ecosystem that provides natural and fisheries resources, over the course of the years has become a threat to all coastal countries due to the increase in sea levels and a combination of other factors. My country, which has a coastline of over 560 kilometers since 2011, is facing very damaging effects related to increase in the sea levels due to frequent storms, and waves sometimes reaching 3 meters. This climate phenomena lead to disastrous consequences, in particular deadly flooding, erosion of land, increase of tropical diseases such as malaria and meningitis and other problems. In the face of these real and potential threats, the Ivorian government in cooperation with technical and financial partners is conducting carrying actions to protect its coastline against degradation, but also enhance resilience of coastal areas and their populations indeed. having taken stock of the importance of our marine environment and coastal environment for our economy, our country has implemented several reforms, including joining several international conventions, strengthening our legislative and regulatory framework, creation of a national agency to manage the coast, and restoring some 75,000 hectares of mangroves, and carrying out a stabilization of our of our sand banks. Madam President, Cote d'Ivoire considers it's time that all actors of society, governments, private sector, civil society, local governments join and act in coordination to save our coast. Therefore, Cote d'Ivoire calls for regional initiative regarding increase in the sea level with support from technical and financial partners, including UNEP, IOC, UNESCO, the Division for Ocean Affairs, the African Union, the African Development Bank, in order to pool efforts and provide a coordinated response to this cross-border threat. We also call on strengthening international cooperation. To conclude, Cote d'Ivoire reaffirms its readiness to work with all its partners in order to transform our joint vulnerability in the face of sea level rise into a shared responsibility and collective, coordinated, and lasting action to benefit our populations. I thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Cote d'Ivoire.

Now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Marshall Islands on behalf of Pacific Islands Forum.

Excellencies, I speak on behalf of Pacific Island Forum members. Today, the world meets at the seas rise. For decades, former forum leaders have recognized climate change as the greatest threat to our Pacific, blue Pacific. In Palau, at our meeting earlier this month, Pacific Island leaders made clear through the Palau Declaration that Pacific people contributes the least to the global emissions, yet face the gravest impacts. Sea level rise is no longer a future risk. It is present and accelerating. The seas are already reaching the doorsteps of our coastal communities and homes, breaching 1.5 degrees Celsius, which UNEP's Overshoots report warns will happen in the next few years. threatens the security, livelihoods, wellbeing, and future of our peoples. Risk identified, intensify which every fraction of a degree. Even under a 1.5 degree scenario, 34 centimeter of sea level rise by 2050 means more intense and frequent coastal flooding, for low-lying countries and communities. Annual GDP losses are expected to double. Tuna redistribution could reduce regional fisheries licensing fee by up to 90 million US dollars annually. Wild coastal fisheries may decline by up to 65% in some countries. Two years ago in this forum, the Pacific brought greater global attention to the disproportionate impacts of sea level rise on our region. We came with concerns, but also ideas, leadership, and a clear vision for the future. The Pacific has advanced practical legal solutions. The forums 2021 and 2023 normative declarations declare, proclaim, and affirm the continuity of maritime zones, statehood, and sovereignty, and the responsibility to protect persons affected by climate change related sea level rise. Securing legal certainty is central to the full realization of leaders vision set out in our 2050 strategy for the blue Pacific continent. The ICJ advisory opinion on climate change affirms that this Pacific leadership, the court recognized the forum's 2021 declaration and confirmed that once maritime zones are established under UNCLOS, states are not required to update charters or coordinates because of sea level rise. This is a powerful affirmation of the Pacific position that maritime zones and the right and entitlement that flows from them endure. Today, we join in the adoption of this momentous political declaration. It recognized of small island developing states and reference to both forum declaration shows that Pacific voices have helped shape the global response. Recognition must now become action. We need stronger adaptation and preparedness, community led resilience, early warning systems, disaster readiness, unlocking and delivery of new and agreed climate finance commitments, and fit for purpose financing, including through capitalization of the Pacific Resilient Facility. We need scale investment in high resolution science to map the impact, inform cost effective design. and guide decision. We call on partners to help capitalize the facility toward its initial 500 USD million target. For more than three decades, the Pacific had sounded the call, advanced solution, and built consensus. We now further call on member states to support our ambitions and efforts. Madam President, when future generations look back at this moment, let them see that today the world came together.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Marshall Islands. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Madam President, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Moroccans abroad, I would like to make this statement. Ladies and gentlemen, let me congratulate you on holding this high-level meeting and the adoption of the political declaration. The adoption of this declaration is a milestone in combating this existential threat. However, we have to give body to this declaration, give content through more coordinated international action based on solidarity in line with our commitments under international instruments, in particular the Paris Accord. This is why the Kingdom of Morocco has always called for climate action that puts issues related to vulnerability, resilience, and solidarity at the heart of international efforts under the clear enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the sixth Morocco in particular has supported the climate commission of the island African states, which was launched in 2016 in Marrakesh at the African Union Summit on the margins of COP22. Faithful to this approach, Morocco has also launched a process for Atlantic island states, which highlights sustainable development and protecting the marine environment. Also, since 2019, MERCO has submitted draft resolution to the General Assembly regarding strengthening cooperation for integrated management of coastal areas. We also joined a group of countries at the head of the International Coalition to Combat the Rise in Sea and the existential threat that this represents. Ladies and gentlemen, we suggest the focusing priority on four common areas of action to combat against this threat, existential threat. First of all, anticipating. Secondly, financing. Thirdly, launching structural partnership. Fourthly, protections. Putting people at the heart of these efforts and protecting their subsistence activities and protecting heritage. I would also like to conclude, take this opportunity to reaffirm that the Kingdom of Morocco is ready to continue to contributing as part of efforts and initiatives to ensure solidarity and effective action to reflect our common commitment to ensure lasting sustainable development. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, the Republic of Korea welcomes and supports the declaration on sea level rise. We thank Australia and Cabo Verde for their leadership in guiding the negotiations. At the outset, I extend my deepest condolences to all those who lost their lives in the last month's devastating floods and landslides in Himalaya region. This reminds us that climate impacts are interconnected from melting glaciers in the mountains to rising seas along our coast. Island states have long sounded the alarm. Sea level rise threatens homes and livelihood, culture and heritage, and even statehood, sovereignty, and legal stability. For many, it is not a distant risk, but an existential threat. Our response must begin by listening to those on the front lines. Real change on the ground also requires science, finance, and strong international partnerships. For 36 years, the Republic of Korea has tracked sea level change using data at over 20 tide gauge stations. We are ready to share our data, experience, and technical expertise with the international community. In this regard, Korea and Chile will co-host the first United Nations Ocean Conference in 2028. It will be important opportunity to translate this cooperation into practical action. Data must be accessible and usable, where it matters most. Finance must reach those most in need, and our efforts must be anchored in strong solidarity. To that end, Korea is ready to listen and partner with you all. We all look forward to working together to turn shared commitment into action. The ocean works as one. We must also act as one. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Your Excellency, sea level rise poses significant risks to coastal communities, to ecosystems, to infrastructure and sustainable development, particularly in developing countries and small island developing states. South Africa supports strengthened international cooperation and multilateral action to address the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.

We support the view that sea level.

Rise should not affect maritime boundaries fixed by agreement and that the principle of fundamental change of circumstances should not be used to terminate or suspend maritime boundary agreements.

South Africa supports practical and cooperative approaches within existing international legal.

Frameworks to address the legal challenges arising from sea level rise, including efforts to preserve legal certainty, stability, and predictability regarding lawfully established maritime boundaries, baselines, and maritime zones. We further recognize that there may be implications for persons affected by sea level rise, including the emergence of environmental refugees and the responsibilities of states towards these individuals, particularly from a human rights perspective. South Africa supports continued consideration of the protection of persons affected by sea level rise, including the need to examine the adequacy of existing international legal frameworks and to uphold human dignity as a guiding principle. In this regard, strengthened international cooperation becomes paramount to addressing the adverse effects and impacts of sea level rise, as well as continued engagement on issues relating to and the protection of persons affected by sea level rise. Your Excellencies, South Africa further recognizes that sea level rise presents considerable environmental, economic, and legal challenges that is essential to adopt a proactive, evidence-based national stance to protect coastal communities, safeguard economic assets, and align with global climate governance.

Practical responses that.

Do not require the amendment of existing international instruments are preferred, including interpretive approaches, United Nations resolutions or declarations, cooperation mechanisms and advisory opinions from relevant international courts and tribunals where appropriate. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, at the outset, allow me to thank Cape Verde and Australia for co-facilitating the political declaration adopted this morning. Mr. President, the damage of sea level rise has already begun as far as the people living along coastlines and land as a result of saltwater, and as a result of saltwater entering freshwater resources. There also will be the loss of natural system which help to keep people safe. LDCs and small island developing states are at particular risk. For example, many African nations on my continent are impacted by sea level rise and therefore daily experience the danger of sea level rise. Some will see this danger extend into their territory, their culture. or even the way of life. Ethiopia also wishes to underline that sea level rise cannot be addressed in isolation. It is closely linked to climate change, including the melting of glaciers and mountain ecosystems, prolonged drought and land degradation. These challenges are interconnected and affect all regions, including landlocked countries such as Ethiopia. Across Africa, coastal cities and deltas face rising seas, while many countries, including in the Horn of Africa, continue to suffer from recurrent drought. These impacts have caused severe loss of agriculture, livestock, and food security, and have placed increasing pressure on communities and institutions and public resources. It therefore calls for an integrated response that addresses this challenge together. and that gives particular attention to the needs and special circumstances of the least developed countries, African countries, and small island developing states. Mr. President, in this regard, the provision of adequate, predictable, and accessible means of implementation, including finance, technology transfer, capacity building, remains essential. Support must be delivered at the scale required and on terms that do not add to the debt burden of vulnerable countries. Equally Important are access to reliable data and strengthening of early warning systems. Mr. President, Ethiopia remains committed to collective action to address the impact of climate change, to advance solutions that respond to the needs and realities of developing countries. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Djibouti.

President, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Djibouti welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting on the existential threat posed by sea level rise. This peril is not a far-off prospect. It's visible. It's measurable. UN Member States cognizant of this reality, have placed this issue atop the global agenda, given the threats it poses to coastal areas, with a series of risks and impacts owing to storms, high tides, and the permanent submersion of land. Djibouti rallies behind all of the development efforts, convinced that low-emitting countries who contributed so little to climate change and are now bearing the brunt of the consequences. Djibouti would like to contribute to today's debate by setting the following priorities, which should guide our collective international action. First, guaranteeing streamlined, predictable and equitable access to climate funding. Second, adequate investment in resilient coastal infrastructure, including better urban planning, protecting ports, roads, and other facilities. We must also bolster drainage systems and ensure we are protected against flooding. Third, we should promote marine and coastal ecosystem protection. We need better early warning systems. Furthermore, we must bolster international cooperation and promote fruitful dialogue between policymakers. On the legal front, Djibouti reiterates its support for the International Law Commission's study group's conclusions, whereby we must presume continuity of statehood in cases of loss of landmass. This is what we'll be bequeathing to future generations. I thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Djibouti. and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guyana.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Guyana aligns with the statement delivered by His Excellency, President of the Cooperative of Palu, and in his capacity as Chair.

Of EOSIS.

I offer some additional perspective in my national capacity.

Today's meeting is an opportunity to take stock of the increasing.

Threats posed by sea level rise and to advance a coordinated multilateral response to address the challenges associated with this phenomenon, particularly low-lying coastal states like Guyana. Addressing sea level rise cannot be delinked from our efforts to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis. This notion is reflected in the latest Secretary General report on challenges related to sea level rise which warns that rising seas are no longer a distant threat. But it is now developed, it is now happening faster than at any point in recorded history. This is particularly alarming for Guyana.

Especially as we face.

Other climate related shocks. And we're nearly 90% of our population resides along the coastline. Chair, while seawall barriers protect Guyana's coast, we, like many coastal states, have been affected by increasing flooding, which poses a significant threat to our people and their livelihoods. The government has made significant investments in strengthening our defenses through nature-based solutions such as mangroves. However, national efforts must be complemented by comprehensive multilateral efforts. Guyana is therefore pleased to join the consensus in the adoption of today's landmark UN declaration on sea level rise by the General Assembly. We must move beyond rhetoric and ensure adequate means of implementation to strengthen our adaptive capacity. Access to financing and technology as well as data availability and enhanced institutional capacity. Will be crucial. Will be critical in this regard. And finally, chair, as we welcome the declaration, we emphasize that our constituted maritime zones established on the on the on clause are stable and will not be affected by rising seas.

Regarding the continued I thank the distinguished representative of Guyana I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I apologize, I made a mistake on the screen. The next speaker will be the distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by the distinguished representative of Indonesia. My apologies.

Madam President, the multilateral system built to respond to the challenge of climate change continues to suffer crisis in implementing and addition of agreements and commitments signed up to in the area of climate in particular. We're worried about the negative trends in mobilization and provision of climate finances by developed countries, as well as official development aid. Industrialized countries are the main culprits of climate change, and they should pay the climate debt. In the case of Cuba, Our scientists estimate a significant rise in the sea levels, which will affect 122 human settlements by 2050 and 136 by 2100. Our response capacity is continually limited by the unprecedented tightening of the blockade imposed by the United States against my country, including a criminal energy siege, which is an act of genocide and collective punishment. It is the sinister combination of a natural threat and married to a policy that is deliberately designed to cause suffering and humanitarian damage. It is impossible to combat climate change while these policies are pursued. To contain climate change, it's necessary to change the international order. It is not possible to stop climate change while the arms race is growing, while Financial and technological resources are lacking for those who most need it. We must act with greater solidarity, with more international cooperation, climate justice, and let us ensure real access to development for the countries of the global South.

Thank you very much.

I thank Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, every millimeter of sea level rise carries real consequences. For those on the front line, it means homes lost, livelihoods disrupted, and communities placed at risk. Indonesia understands this reality. As the world's largest archipelagic state situated in the Indo-Pacific, The sea is inseparable from our identity, our economy, and our future. Sea level rise is not a distant concern. We cannot wait until its consequences become irreversible. Our response must begin by addressing its causes. We need sustained reduction in emissions, and at the same time, we must strengthen adaptation and resilience measures. For developing coastal and archipelagic states, this requires accessible, predictable, adequate, and sustainable financing, technology transfer, and capacity building. Such means of implementation must be provided in line with equity and the principle of CBDRRC. Effective responses must be guided by science and reliable data. Better knowledge enables better decisions, stronger early warning system, and more targeted protection for communities at risk. Resilience must go further. It must protect the ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and create more economic opportunities. Indonesia translates this approach into concrete actions, including through giant seawall initiative along the north coast of Java, and the rehabilitation of more than 13,000 hectares of mangroves through mangroves for coastal resilience program. Excellencies, sea level rise must not create legal uncertainty. UNCLOS remains the fundamental legal framework governing the oceans, including sea level rise. Changes caused by sea level rise should not diminish lawfully established baselines, maritime entitlements, and outer limits. The International Court of Justice and Law of the Sea Tribunal have provided authoritative legal interpretation, and we must ensure the coherent and consistent application of UNCLOS, other relevant international law, and customary law. Our task now is to work together in ensuring that rising seas do not take away what generations have built and what future generations deserve. And I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. I think your mic is not activated yet. Now it is. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this timely high-level meeting on the.

Existential threat of sea level rise.

We also commend the Secretary-General for his sustained leadership in keeping this defining challenge at the forefront of the international agenda. For Sierra Leone, sea level rise is not a distant projection or an abstract environmental concern. It is an immediate reality for our coastal communities. It threatens homes, livelihoods, critical infrastructure, ecosystems, cultural heritage, food security, fresh water, and the dignity and safety of our people. With the extensive coastline, islands, and large population dependent on coastal and marine livelihoods and vital infrastructure concentrated along the coast, Sierra Leone is highly vulnerable. Coastal erosion, storm surges, tidal flooding, saltwater intrusion are already imposing significant human and economic costs. These impacts compound existing development challenges and risk reversing hard-won progress towards sustainable development goals. Sea level rise is a global consequence of climate change, but its effects are profoundly unequal. Those who have contributed least are the ones facing the gravest threats to their development, territorial integrity, and their existence. This demands urgent, grounded action. Action grounded in equity, climate justice, and international solidarity. We must keep the 1.5 degree goal within reach. Every fraction matters. But mitigation alone cannot protect communities already confronting irreversible impacts. Adaptation must receive greater political priority with predictable and accessible finance, technology transfer, and capacity building support. Developing countries require scaled up grant-based climate finance so they can implement their adaptation priorities without being driven further into debt. For Sierra Leone, key priorities include integrated coastal zone management, restoration of mangroves and wetlands, climate resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and protection for vulnerable settlements and affected communities. Madam President, Sierra Leone calls on member states, particularly those with the greatest capacity and responsibility to turn commitments into action, deliver ambitious emission reductions, meet and exceed climate finance pledges, and operationalize effective loss and damage arrangements. Sea level rise is a defining test of our collective result and of multilateral.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Angola.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates.

Allow me to begin by welcoming the convening of this important high-level meeting on the sea level rise, convened within the framework of the decision 78/558 of the United Nations General Assembly. The convening of this meeting reflects the recognition by the international community of a reality that can no longer be ignored, postponed, or treated by a distant threat. Sea level rise is a present, progressive, and transboundary reality, whose effects are already being felt on populations, cities, infrastructures, ecosystems, and economies, affecting particularly severely small island developing states and countries with extensive low-lying coastal areas. More than an environmental issue, we are facing a challenge that directly affects the security of populations, the protection of territories and food security, economic development and the very.

Capacity of states to protect present and future generations.

For Angola, this issue is a particularly relevant issue. Our country has approximately 1,650 km of Atlantic coastline. Very important communities, urban centers, ports, energy and transport infrastructures, fishing activities, coastal ecosystems and significant part of the opportunities associated with the blue economy are concentrated. The Angolan coastline is simultaneously a place of life, a source of wealth and territory of development, but is also an area of increasing exposure to climate risks. The rise in the mean sea level associated with coastal erosion, flooding, storms and saltwater intrusion may increase the vulnerability of our communities and infrastructures and exert additional pressure on sectors essential to the country and food security and economic development. Therefore, we advocate an approach that combines engineering science and nature-based solutions to make coastal land. Engineering science and nature-based solutions to make our coasts safer, our communities more resilient and our development more sustainable.

Thank you.

I thank you to the distinguished Minister of Angola. I thank you.

Now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia.

Thank you, Madam President. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Thank you, Madam President. In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful. May the peace and blessings be upon the prophet. Tunisia, as a country with a dense population and population focused on our coastline, we find ourselves in the front lines of this existential battle caused by sea level rise. Our coasts are exposed to erosion and flooding, with repercussions for water resources, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Tunisia considers that addressing this phenomenon requires a comprehensive, coordinated and forward-looking response. Such a response must combine climate action, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, scientific cooperation, and the protection of vulnerable communities and ecosystems so as to ensure that climate scenarios are integrated into long-term development planning. My country has strengthened field-based scientific research programs in this area. It has also upgraded the national sea level monitoring network by installing modern digital tide measuring tools and meteorological monitoring stations. This system has enabled us to collect precise scientific data, which show a significant rise in sea level of up to 13 centimeters in a number of coastal cities. Madam President, Tunisia calls on the international community to endorse the principle of the continuity of maritime zones. This would ensure that the maritime boundaries of coastal states are not affected by coastal erosion or by the disappearance of parts of low-lying islands, thereby preserving the sovereign rights of states. The Mediterranean basin is a highly vulnerable region, characterized by rapid evaporation and high salinity. We therefore call for to be designated a top priority region. This would enable the countries of the Southern Mediterranean to obtain financial and technical support to strengthen their adaptation and resilience effort and to restore their coastal ecosystems. We also stress the importance of strengthening information and early warning systems on a sound scientific basis to support our coastal communities, in particular vulnerable communities and artisanal and traditional fishers. Sea level rise scenarios must also be integrated into long-term development planning. Tunisia affirms that all these efforts will remain incomplete unless they are coupled with a firm commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement. We underline the importance of strengthening

The microphone has been cut off. The distinguished representative of Tunisia, shukran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.

Madame President.

Guatemala, I would like to echo the voice of those who recognize that the rise in sea levels is an existential, real, and growing threat, especially for island and coastal developing states. My delegation recalls that the Commission on International Law and its study on the increase in sea levels identified that one possible way of action in the face of this phenomenon is for the General Assembly to approve resolutions or declarations pertaining to inter alia to the continuity of the need to preserve the state's sovereignty. In this connection, we note with satisfaction the adoption of this declaration, and we welcome this cooperation between two organs of the UN system. The fragmented and inadequate nature of existing legal frameworks in this area requires that we continue to further develop international law. This is why we want to highlight the legal pillar of this declaration. Guatemala has stated that maritime borders, due to the increase in sea levels, generates legal uncertainty and unresolved disputes. This is why we welcome that the declaration advocates for stability of borders in line with the Convention on the Law of the Sea. We also support the declaration, especially paragraph 21, that calls on support for efforts to confront territorial changes so that they can maintain their governmental functions, institutional functions, and diplomatic ones beyond their territory. Lastly, Guatemala reiterates its support for the creation of legal instruments that protect persons who are displaced by this phenomenon. These should be based on international law of human rights and the dignity of human beings, without losing sight that protecting people also requires protecting institutions that make it possible for their self-determination. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Guatemala.

I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Solomon Islands.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished guests, I'm honored to speak at this important high-level meeting on an issue of profound importance to my people and my country, one, sea level rise and all climate change. On that note, our nation stands in full solidarity with the international community in supporting the UN declaration on sea level rise. We recognize the existential threat that rising sea level pose to coastal population, maritime boundaries, and global security. By endorsing this landmark declaration, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, preserving national sovereignty, and implementing science-based climate adaptation strategies. Our message is therefore clear, just like any other Pacific Island nations. We need ambition that matches the scale of the threat, finance that reaches the frontline, and action that preserves choices for communities. Every fraction of warming matters. Keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach remains essential.

To reducing the risk we face.

We are learning every day how to defend our coastlines, strengthen resilience, protect food and water security, and where necessary, plan for movement. But we cannot do this alone. I call on this assembly to match the courage and resilience of our Pacific communities with collective international resolve to strengthen adaptation and resilience finance, support communities facing climate mobility, uphold our legal obligations, and keep sea level rise firmly at the center of the international climate agenda.

For our people, this is not simply about surviving climate change.

It is about preserving the right to remain, the right to adopt, and where necessary, the right to move with dignity while protecting our identity, our sovereignty, and our future. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Solomon Islands. We have heard the last speaker for this morning. We will hear the remaining speakers on the list of speakers this afternoon at 3 o'clock in this very same conference room. The meeting is adjourned.