NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a stark warning on Tuesday at a Pacific islands summit, emphasizing the grave threat that rising sea levels pose to the region.
Speaking from Tonga, Guterres issued a global “SOS — Save Our Seas,” highlighting that the seas around the Pacific islands are rising significantly faster than the global average. This alarming trend threatens the very survival of these low-lying islands.
The Pacific islands, though contributing less than 0.02 percent of global emissions, are among the most vulnerable to climate change. The region’s volcanic islands and coral atolls are situated in a tropical corridor increasingly threatened by rising ocean levels.
According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), sea levels in parts of the Pacific have risen by about 15 centimeters over the past 30 years, compared to the global average of 9.4 centimeters.
This discrepancy underscores the heightened risks faced by the Pacific islands, with some areas, such as the capital cities of Samoa and Fiji, experiencing sea level rise at nearly three times the global rate.
In Tuvalu, one of the most vulnerable Pacific nations, the land is so scarce that children are forced to use the tarmac of the international airport as a playground. Scientists warn that Tuvalu could be nearly wiped off the map within the next 30 years if current trends continue.
Tuvalu’s Climate Minister, Maina Talia, expressed the dire situation, stating that the nation is constantly grappling with disasters, losing its ability to recover and prepare for the next cyclone or flood.
The Pacific islands have long been seen as a “canary in the coal mine” for climate change, signaling the broader global impacts that could follow if urgent action is not taken. Australian climate researcher Wes Morgan emphasized that climate change is the top security threat for Pacific nations, with their survival hinging on reducing global carbon emissions.
The UN report and Guterres’ SOS call to action highlight the pressing need for international cooperation to address the climate crisis. Pacific nations are advocating for carbon-polluting countries to reduce emissions and invest in climate resilience programs.
The issue of loss and damage finance is also a critical concern, as rising sea levels and other climate-related impacts are already causing significant economic losses in the region. In 2020 alone, several Pacific Island nations, including Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Micronesia, lost over one percent of their GDP due to rising seas.
As the summit continues, discussions will likely focus on these urgent issues, with Pacific leaders seeking global support to combat the existential threat posed by climate change.
