Published on: 2026-09-24
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 24, 2026 Climate and Environment
In 2024, the level of the World Ocean rose by almost six millimeters – the largest annual increase in the entire observation history. The rate of rise is accelerating, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday at a high-level event dedicated to this issue.
“Rising seas are drowning the future,” he said. Greenhouse gases, primarily formed by burning fossil fuels, warm the planet, and the ocean absorbs about 90 percent of the excess heat.
According to forecasts by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, even under the most favorable scenario, sea levels could rise by half a meter by the end of the century. Without a sharp reduction in emissions, the rise could reach one meter. Meanwhile, Greenland and West Antarctica are losing ice increasingly quickly, which creates the risk of irreversible changes.
© UNICEF/A. Fahim Around 770 million people on Earth live less than five meters above the high tide line.
Around 770 million people live less than five meters above high tide levels. Without significant adaptation and emission reduction measures, risks to coastal cities and communities could increase tenfold by 2100, the Secretary-General warned.
Sea level rise damages the economy, trade, infrastructure, and food systems. It can destroy cultural heritage and community identity, increase instability, and threaten the territorial integrity of some states. The disappearance of land and salinization of freshwater sources threaten resource conflicts and mass population displacement.
“This is climate injustice: those who contributed least to causing this crisis are paying the highest price,” Guterres emphasized.
Also read:
EXPLAINING | What rising sea levels mean for humanity
Three areas of action
The first step is to eliminate the root causes of sea level rise. According to the Secretary-General, global emissions must peak immediately and be reduced by 60 percent by 2035. He called for tripling the use of renewable energy, doubling energy efficiency, cutting methane emissions, stopping and reversing deforestation, and rapidly and fairly phasing out fossil fuels. According to him, the Group of Twenty should play the leading role.
The second priority is to protect people. Resilience to sea level rise needs to be incorporated into national adaptation plans, development budgets, infrastructure, and land use decisions. Currently, 128 countries report having early warning systems for various hazards, but such protection must cover every individual, Guterres emphasized. Governments should plan measures in advance and together with residents, protecting their rights and, where possible, preserving communities.
This will require funding. The annual target of $300 billion for developing countries should be a step towards mobilizing $1.3 trillion per year by 2035. According to the Secretary-General, adaptation financing needs to be tripled.
The third task is to eliminate legal gaps. As noted by Guterres, the International Court of Justice and the International Law Commission have indicated that a state can maintain its status even in the event of losing territory. States have also been called upon to preserve maritime zones and boundaries when the coastline shifts. Legal certainty in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is necessary, as well as international cooperation to protect affected states and communities.
The Secretary-General welcomed the negotiations of states on a comprehensive UN declaration on sea level rise. He called it an important milestone and urged that the agreements now be put into action. “People’s rights do not vanish with their homes,” Guterres said.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.