APIA, 22nd August 2024 (TDI): The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning on Thursday about the existential threats facing Pacific territories from climate-induced cyclones, ocean heatwaves, and rising sea levels.
During his visit to Samoa, Guterres emphasized that the survival of Pacific islands hinges on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a target set by nearly 200 nations in the 2015 Paris Agreement. However, UN estimates suggest that the world is falling short of this goal.
Guterres highlighted that high and rising sea levels present a severe threat to Samoa, the Pacific region, and other small island developing states, demanding urgent international action. He pointed out that while the Pacific region contributes only 0.02 percent of global carbon emissions, it is at the forefront of the climate crisis, experiencing extreme weather events like intense cyclones and unprecedented ocean heatwaves.
“Sea levels are rising even faster than the global average, creating an existential threat to millions of Pacific Islanders,” Guterres said. “People are suffering, economies are being devastated, and entire territories face annihilation.”
He urged wealthier nations to fulfill their financial commitments to address the impacts of climate change in developing countries and called for global efforts to combat the effects of climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean.
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Guterres also noted the growing interest of major powers in the Pacific, referencing the strategic competition between China and the United States and its allies. He asserted that “The Pacific is best managed by Pacific islanders” and should not become a battleground for geopolitical rivalry.
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