Published on: 2026-09-24
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 24, 2026 Climate and Environment
On Thursday, world leaders reached a consensus and adopted the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise. Opening the high-level meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the advancing sea already threatens the future of coastal communities.
What is stated in the Declaration
Science and data: it is necessary to improve sea level monitoring, share data, and strengthen early warning systems.
Financing and sustainability: financing should be more predictable and accessible, especially for small island and least developed countries.
Livelihoods and culture: it is necessary to protect the sources of income and the cultural heritage of coastal communities, as well as to involve people in decision-making processes that affect them.
Legal issues: The declaration enshrines the presumption of the preservation of statehood and the possibility to maintain maritime zones established in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, despite physical changes caused by sea level rise.
© UNICEF/A. Fakih About 770 million people on Earth live less than five meters above the high tide line.
According to Guterres, in 2024 the level of the World’s oceans rose by almost six millimeters – the largest annual increase in the entire history of observations. Without a sharp reduction in emissions, the sea could rise by one meter by the end of the century. Approximately 770 million people live at an elevation of less than five meters above water level during high tide.
Sea level rise threatens homes, food systems, infrastructure, and even the territorial integrity of some countries, the Secretary-General noted. At the same time, the greatest danger threatens those who have contributed the least to climate change. He called for action in three areas: reducing emissions, protecting populations, and closing gaps in international law. According to him, global emissions must peak immediately and be reduced by 60 percent by 2035. Funding for adaptation measures needs to be tripled.
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EXPLAINING | What rising sea levels mean for humanity
UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman gave the example of New York. It is projected that by the end of the century, the sea level there may rise by 1.3 meters, and with rapid melting of Antarctic ice – much more. He noted that this would be enough to turn the General Assembly Hall into a “very large shallow pool.”
Prime Minister of Cape Verde Francisco Carvalho, whose country participated in coordinating the negotiations on the Declaration, stated that its adoption shows: multilateral cooperation still produces results. For his country, sea level rise is “not a distant threat nor a theoretical problem.” For small island states, it is a matter of preserving “historical and cultural identity, deeply connected with the land and the sea.” According to him, the Declaration acknowledges that this is a question of justice, human rights, and peace.
Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Godwin Friday stated that 85 percent of his country’s population and 90 percent of its critical infrastructure are concentrated in a narrow coastal strip. According to him, investments in protection against climate threats will now be much cheaper than compensating for losses and damages in the future.
European Commissioner Kostas Kadis spoke about the international alliance OceanEye, created by the European Commission and Canada to expand ocean monitoring. The alliance includes 31 participants; the amount of promised funding is 250 million dollars. Kadis emphasized that the funds must be predictable, accessible, and meet the needs of vulnerable communities.
Member States have agreed to revisit this topic. The declaration provides for another high-level meeting to be held before the conclusion of the 84th session of the General Assembly. Its theme and format are to be determined no later than the 83rd session.
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