World leaders call for increased climate finance, stronger coastal protection and improved early warning systems as rising sea levels threaten livelihoods, infrastructure and vulnerable populations.
By Bunmi Yekini
World leaders have called for urgent and coordinated international action to address rising sea levels, warning that the accelerating threat is putting coastal communities, livelihoods and development gains at risk.
The call is contained in the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise, adopted at a high-level meeting during the opening of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The declaration identifies ocean warming and the melting of ice sheets and glaciers as the primary drivers of rising sea levels, warning that their impacts are already being felt in island nations, low-lying coastal areas and river deltas.
It particularly highlights the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, where rising seas threaten development gains and expose communities to severe and potentially irreversible risks.
The declaration calls for stronger international cooperation, improved scientific research and increased investment in adaptation and climate resilience, with an emphasis on using the best available scientific evidence to guide responses.
Under its proposed measures, world leaders urged countries to strengthen disaster preparedness through improved risk assessments, early warning systems and long-term coastal planning to address flooding, storm surges and other hazards aggravated by rising seas.
They also called for increased access to climate finance, particularly for developing countries, alongside simpler funding procedures and more predictable disbursement to support local adaptation efforts.
The declaration identifies the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, coastal wetlands and seagrass meadows, as essential measures for strengthening coastal resilience and protecting marine resources.
It further urges governments to incorporate sea-level projections into the planning and maintenance of critical infrastructure, including ports, transport networks, energy facilities, healthcare systems and water supplies.
Beyond the physical threat to coastlines, the declaration warns that rising seas could undermine food security, contaminate freshwater supplies, erode agricultural land and disrupt fishing, tourism and other ocean-based economic activities.
It also highlights the social and cultural consequences, including the potential loss of traditional lands, burial grounds, sacred sites and other cultural heritage, as well as threats to the livelihoods and ways of life of affected communities.
The document calls for women, girls, children, young people, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to be meaningfully included in decisions on responses to rising sea levels.
It also recognises the need to support communities facing displacement, including voluntary relocation where necessary, while safeguarding human rights and ensuring that affected people can move with dignity.
On the legal implications, the declaration affirms the importance of maintaining stability and certainty in maritime boundaries as sea levels rise. It also supports the continuity of statehood and sovereignty for countries facing territorial changes caused by rising seas.
The leaders reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation and existing climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement, in addressing the growing threat.
They also called for stronger coordination among UN agencies and other international institutions to improve scientific data, mobilise resources and strengthen implementation.
The declaration encourages continued high-level dialogue and calls for another meeting on sea level rise before the end of the UN General Assembly’s 84th session, with its scope and arrangements to be determined by the 83rd session.