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  5. UN chief warns of unimaginable climate catastrophe due to rising sea levels and urges global action to address the crisis

UN chief warns of unimaginable climate catastrophe due to rising sea levels and urges global action to address the crisis

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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of a crisis of an "unimaginable scale" caused by greenhouse gases and rising sea levels. He specifically highlighted the Pacific island nations, which are in "grave danger" due to rising sea levels. According to Guterres, sea-surface temperatures in the south-west Pacific have risen three times faster than the global average since 1980. This has led to unprecedented global sea-level rise, as noted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Guterres emphasized that big polluters have a clear responsibility to cut emissions and save the Pacific islands from the devastating effects of climate change. He also stated that the Pacific is the most vulnerable area of the world, with its population uniquely exposed to the impacts of rising sea levels and ocean temperatures.

  1. AU
    Anthony Albanese
    Australian Government
    1. We are at the centre of global geopolitical interest. We are at the forefront of a battle against climate change.
  2. PT
    António Guterres
    United Nations
    1. The problem is, the Pacific Islands also suffer another big injustice - the international financial instruments that exist to support countries in distress were not designed for countries like this.
    2. The Pacific is today the most vulnerable area of the world.
    3. There is an enormous injustice in relation to the Pacific and it's the reason I am here.
    4. That means cutting global emissions 43% compared to 2019 levels by 2030, and 60% by 2035.
    5. This is a crazy situation: Rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity's making. A crisis that will soon swell to an almost unimaginable scale.
    6. The fate of the Pacific depends on limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
    7. I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS – Save Our Seas – on rising sea levels.
    8. The sea is taking the heat – literally.
    9. Only by limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius do we have a fighting chance of preventing the irreversible collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets – and the catastrophes that accompany them.
    10. There is an obligation of the G20 that represent 80% of emissions – there's an obligation for them to come together, to guarantee a reduction of emissions now.
    11. The bureaucracy, the complexity, the lack of sense of urgency because it's a small island, far away.
    12. The reason is clear: greenhouse gases – overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels – are cooking our planet.
    13. Today's reports confirm that relative sea levels in the Southwestern Pacific have risen even more than the global average – in some locations, by more than double the global increase in the past 30 years.
    14. This region, the Pacific, contributes 0.02% of global emissions. Yet you are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, dealing with extreme weather events from raging tropical cyclones to record ocean heatwaves.
  3. TO
    Siaosi Sovaleni
    Tonga Government
    1. We must reach consensus on our vision for a region of peace and security.
    2. We must honour the vision of our forefathers regarding self determination, including in New Caledonia.
  4. AU
    ActionAid Australia
    1. Australia and New Zealand's climate finance contributions are falling short of need.
  5. AU
    Michelle Higelin
    ActionAid Australia
    1. We can't tinker around the edges when it comes to climate finance. The climate crisis is already pushing Pacific countries into excruciating debt and deepening gender inequality.
  6. TO
    Joseph Sikulu
    350org
    1. It's important for leaders, especially like Australia and Aotearoa, to come and witness these things for themselves, but also witness the resilience of our people.
    2. It's such a stark reminder of how volatile things are within our region, and how important it is that we need to prepare for everything.
    3. A core part of Tongan culture is our ability to be able to continue to be joyful throughout our adversity, and that's how we practice our resilience and to see and witness that, I think is going to be important.

Climate Change

  1. January sets record high temperature despite La Nina's cooling effects
  2. 2024 marked the first time global temperatures exceeded the 1.5C warming threshold
  3. China weather agency confirms: 2024 caps decade as country's hottest year on record

sources

  1. 1.The Guardian
  2. 2.The Times of India
  3. 3.Al Jazeera
  4. 4.CGTN
  5. 5.BBC
  6. 6.Agence France-Presse

perspectives

  1. 1.World Economy
  2. 2.Regulation
  3. 3.Oil Market
  4. 4.Climate Change
  5. 5.Biodiversity

countries

  1. 1.AustraliaAU
  2. 2.AzerbaijanAZ
  3. 3.ChinaCN
  4. 4.FijiFJ
  5. 5.FranceFR
  6. 6.New CaledoniaNC
  7. 7.NauruNR
  8. 8.New ZealandNZ
  9. 9.Solomon IslandsSB
  10. 10.TongaTO
  11. 11.TuvaluTV
  12. 12.VanuatuVU

organizations

  1. 1.Pacific Islands Forum
  2. 2.PIF
  3. 3.World Health Organization
  4. 4.UN World Meteorological Organization
  5. 5.UN Climate Action Team
  6. 6.United Nations
  7. 7.ActionAid AustraliaAU
  8. 8.ActionAid International
  9. 9.G20
  10. 10.350org
  11. 11.Australian GovernmentAU
  12. 12.International Seabed Authority

persons

  1. 1.António GuterresPT
  2. 2.Anthony AlbaneseAU
  3. 3.Michelle HigelinAU
  4. 4.Rufino Varea
  5. 5.Baron Waqa
  6. 6.Christopher LuxonNZ
  7. 7.Joseph SikuluTO
  8. 8.Louis Mapou
  9. 9.Mark Brown
  10. 10.Siaosi SovaleniTO
  11. 11.Sitiveni RabukaFJ

technicals

  1. 1.Pacific Ocean
  2. 2.COP29
  3. 3.Surging Seas in a Warming World
  4. 4.Leaders Meeting
  5. 5.Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting
  6. 6.Paris Climate Agreement
  7. 7.Seizing the Moment: A New Climate Finance Goal
  8. 8.State of the Climate in the South West Pacific
  9. 9.Torres Strait Island
UN chief warns of unimaginable climate catastrophe due to rising sea levels and urges global action to address the crisis