Surging Seas Pose Global Threat, Warns UN Chief António Guterres
Tonga, August 2024 – During a poignant address at the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning about the imminent and widespread threat of rising sea levels. He emphasized that the crisis, primarily caused by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, poses a dire threat to the entire planet, starting with the world’s most vulnerable regions: the Pacific Islands.
The Pacific: Ground Zero for Climate Change
"The Pacific is today the most vulnerable area of the world," Guterres told the BBC while in Tonga’s capital, Nuku'alofa. He highlighted the disproportionate impact on the Pacific islands, which contribute minimally to global emissions but suffer some of the most severe consequences. He pointed out that rising sea levels, ocean warming, and acidification—a direct result of increased carbon dioxide absorption—are compounding the crisis. "The small islands don’t contribute to climate change, but everything that happens because of climate change is multiplied here," Guterres explained.
A Crisis for All Humanity
Despite the immediate threat to the Pacific, Guterres stressed that "surging seas are coming for us all." In conjunction with his visit, the UN released two critical reports, including the State of the Climate in the South West Pacific by the World Meteorological Organization, which outlines a worrying scenario of rapidly rising sea levels, warming oceans, and increasing ocean acidity.
These findings underscore the clear link between greenhouse gas emissions, predominantly from burning fossil fuels, and global warming. "The reason is clear: greenhouse gases – overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels – are cooking our planet. The sea is taking the heat – literally," Guterres said, calling for urgent and substantial emission cuts.
The Call for Global Responsibility and Action
Guterres reiterated his plea for global solidarity, specifically urging the world’s largest polluters, including the G20 countries, to acknowledge their critical role in curbing climate change. “There is an essential responsibility of the big polluters,” Guterres stated. He highlighted the urgent need to adhere to the Paris Agreement’s goals to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This requires cutting global emissions by 43% from 2019 levels by 2030 and 60% by 2035.
Without these reductions, the world faces the risk of surpassing critical thresholds, which could lead to irreversible damage, such as the melting of Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, causing catastrophic sea-level rise.
The Human Cost and the Need for Urgent Financial Support
During his visit, Guterres met with local communities in Tonga whose homes and livelihoods are threatened by the encroaching sea. These communities have been waiting for years for essential funding for protective infrastructure like sea walls, reflecting broader challenges faced by small island developing states in accessing timely and adequate international financial support. Guterres criticized the complexity and slow response of current international financial systems, which he argues are ill-suited to address the urgent needs of these vulnerable countries.
“There are promises of increases of money available for adaptation in developing countries, but the truth is we are far from what is needed,” he said. “The Pacific Islands suffer another big injustice – the international financial instruments that exist to support countries in distress were not designed for countries like this.”
Pacific Resilience and the Call for Change
Despite the bleak outlook, the resilience of the Pacific people remains strong. Guterres’s visit coincided with a vibrant cultural parade in Tonga, featuring dancers from across the region, bearing banners reading "We are not drowning, we are fighting" and "Sea levels are rising – so are we." This reflects the region's determination to adapt and advocate for global action against climate change.
Guterres called for a "transformative resilience," emphasizing that it is critical for global leaders to not only witness but support the resilience efforts of Pacific communities. He highlighted the need for urgent action and solidarity, especially from countries like Australia and New Zealand, which have historically contributed significant emissions.
Conclusion: António Guterres’s visit to Tonga serves as a reminder of the growing urgency of the climate crisis. The message is clear: without immediate and sustained action to cut emissions and support vulnerable regions, rising seas threaten us all. The fate of the Pacific islands is a harbinger of the potential widespread catastrophe, underscoring the need for global cooperation to safeguard the future of our planet.
