The President of the United Nations General Assembly called for a halt to global warming and a reversal of sea level rise

A mosque in a North Jakarta neighborhood in Indonesia is partially submerged

With global sea levels rising faster than ever in the past 3,000 years, United Nations member states met on Wednesday to study how best to respond to this existential threat.

The president of the UN General Assembly, Philemon ·, who convened the high-level meeting, said the situation is very serious. He noted that up to 1.2 billion people could be forcibly displaced.

"For those living at the forefront, the impacts of rising sea levels threaten their livelihoods, causing damage to settlements and critical infrastructure, and its most visible manifestations can force the displacement of entire island populations and coastal communities," he said. ”

Stop global warming

Philemon · Young urged countries to work together to build resilience, address vulnerability to disasters, ensure climate adaptation strategies are developed and implemented, and improve coastal management practices.

"Most importantly, we must recommit ourselves to limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees and thus stop global warming that exacerbates sea level rise," he said. ”

Guterres: Action and funding are crucial

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed the need to reduce emissions to limit sea level rise and save lives. According to the UN initiative, by 2027, he said everyone and everywhere must be protected by an early warning system. At the same time, countries must develop new climate action plans in line with the 1.5°C target, covering all sectors of the economy and providing a fast track to the phase-out of fossil fuels. He stressed that G20 countries account for about 80% of global emissions and must take the lead.

"Funding is indispensable," he said. We need strong financing outcomes for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Azerbaijan this November, including new and innovative sources of financing. ”

Guterres also called for significant contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund to assist developing countries and for richer countries to double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion annually by 2025. In addition, multilateral development banks must be reformed to provide more affordable financing for developing countries.