At a special summit, Dennis Francis, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, said he was determined to ensure the issue of rising sea levels receives the attention it deserves during his presidency.
The climate crisis is happening in real time, necessitating more inclusive and innovative approaches to mitigate its effects, especially in Small Island Developing States, which are threatened with extinction.
“This is not a speculation or over-exaggeration. It is real,” Mr. Francis declared, citing data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). According to the UN body, the global-mean sea level is likely to rise between eight and 29 centimetres by 2030, with equatorial regions bearing the brunt of the change.
The rise is mainly driven by thermal expansion, aggravated by the melting of mountain glaciers and the ice cap, with an even greater rise of up to 70 cm forecasted by 2070. Extreme sea level events that used to occur once a century may become a yearly occurrence by the end of the century.
Mr. Francis warned that 900 million people living in low-lying coastal zones are at risk of losing their homes due to rising sea levels and other climate effects, and that the issue affects more than just coastal communities.
“Fertile river deltas like the Mississippi, Mekong, and Nile – the world’s breadbaskets – are sinking,” he stated.
In addition to the crushing impacts on livelihoods and communities, the rise in sea levels has a variety of implications, from environmental to legal, political, technical, economic, cultural, and human rights.
“Not only do we risk losing land, but also the rich cultural and historical heritage of these islands and regions that have helped to shape people’s identities,” Mr. Francis alerted the dignitaries gathered at the event.
He implored leaders to increase their ambition and take action, and to prioritize the matter at the upcoming COP28 convening on November 30 and the SIDS Conference in 2024.