The world is facing a critical juncture in the fight against climate change, with rising sea levels posing an imminent threat to billions of people, particularly in small island nations and low-lying coastal areas. This week, the UN General Assembly addressed the issue head-on, urging immediate global action to combat the phenomenon.
Representatives of small island developing states and low-lying countries, acutely aware of the existential threat, called for immediate international intervention. The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, speaking on behalf of these vulnerable nations, emphasized the urgency, stating, “Today is our historical opportunity to turn the global tide and to embark on a common path that secures prosperity, dignity, and rights to all affected countries and communities.”
The meeting elevates sea level rise to the top of the international agenda, marking a crucial moment in global efforts to forge a unified response. This effort aims to culminate in an ambitious declaration at the 2026 UN General Assembly.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that by 2050, global sea levels will rise between 15 and 30 centimeters on average, a concerning projection for numerous Pacific and Caribbean islands, many of which remain under the governance of European countries. This raises a critical question: What responsibility do these nations bear in providing protection against climate change for their former colonies?
UN Secretary-General António Guterres sounded the alarm, stating, “Our world is in dangerous waters,” and urging “a strong financial outcome at the 2024 Climate Change Conference.” Assembly President Philémon Yang (Cameroon) echoed this call, emphasizing the need for a collective response to safeguard the most vulnerable populations. “Not everyone has the luxury of high ground or the financial resources to take precautionary measures,” he cautioned.
The human cost of inaction is staggering. Nearly one billion people worldwide reside in low-lying coastal areas that are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges, coastal erosion, and flooding. This translates to a significant threat to economic stability and habitability. Guterres warned of potential consequences, including “swamped, fresh water contaminated, crops ruined, infrastructure damaged, biodiversity destroyed and economies decimated – with sectors such as fisheries, agriculture and tourism pummelled.”
A recent study by French climate change group Réseau Action Climat highlighted the vulnerability of overseas territories, revealing that these regions are among the most exposed to the impacts of climate change. The effects are already evident, with low-lying areas of some islands now chronically submerged at high tide. By the end of this century, some places, such as the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia, will become uninhabitable. This fate also threatens Pointe-à-Pitre, home to over a quarter of the Guadeloupean population, and the Jarry area, France’s third-largest business park. The coastal risks in these regions could reach €100 million annually by 2050, while nearly 50% of the inhabitants live below the poverty line. The most pessimistic projections predict that these areas could be submerged for 180 days per year by 2060.
Despite the vulnerability of their overseas territories, many nations have taken limited action to fortify them against climate change. In a significant step, environmental campaign group Greenpeace has received the green light to take the Dutch government to court for failing to protect Bonaire, a former colony in the Caribbean, from rising sea levels.
In January, eight Bonaire residents, in collaboration with Greenpeace, filed suit against the Dutch government for its inaction in safeguarding them from climate change. Bonaire, although an independent local authority area, remains part of the Netherlands. Greenpeace Nederland director Andy Palmen emphasized the universal responsibility of the Dutch government, stating, “It shouldn’t matter whether you live on Bonaire, on Ameland or in Valkenburg. It’s the Dutch government’s duty to protect all of us from the consequences of the climate crisis.”
The consequences of climate change are undeniable, with parts of Bonaire at risk of disappearing underwater. The island’s coral reef, which provides crucial flood protection, is also facing destruction, according to researchers at Amsterdam’s VU university.
The urgent calls for action at the UN General Assembly, coupled with the legal challenge against the Netherlands, underscore the growing pressure on nations to take immediate and decisive steps to combat climate change. The fate of island nations and coastal communities hangs in the balance, and the world must act now to avert a catastrophic future.
