Pacific Islands Face Powerful Impacts of Climate Change WMO Report: Rising Sea Levels Threaten Existence of Pacific Islands Climate and Environment
Accelerating sea level rise, ocean warming and water acidification pose a direct threat to the continued existence of Pacific islands, warn the authors of a report published Tuesday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The report was launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and WMO chief Celeste Saulo at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga. Also released on Tuesday was a report, “Tumultuous Seas in a Warming World,” which paints a grim picture for the Pacific region.
“A global [climate] catastrophe is threatening the Pacific paradise,” Antonio Guterres said as he launched the two documents at the forum. “Sea levels are rising at an unprecedented rate. The cause is clear: greenhouse gases, mostly from the burning of fossil fuels. The sea literally absorbs this heat.”
On the Cutting Edge
Despite the fact that the Pacific islands account for only 0.02 percent of global emissions, they are heavily exposed to the negative impacts of climate change. Their average elevation is only one to two meters above sea level; 90 percent of the population lives within five kilometers of the coastline; and half of all infrastructure is located within 500 meters of the waterline.
“Rapid sea level rise threatens us all, devastating fisheries and tourism and undermining the blue economy,” the UN chief said. “About a billion people around the world live in coastal areas. And while some sea level rise is inevitable, the scale, pace and impact are not. It all depends on our decisions.”
Hurricanes and Floods
Sea levels have risen by about 10-15 cm in much of the western tropical Pacific, nearly double the global average measured since 1993. In the central tropical Pacific, sea levels have risen by about 5-10 cm.
Rising sea levels have led to a sharp increase in coastal flooding. In 2023, 34 hazardous hydrometeorological events were recorded in the Pacific region, most of which were storm-related or flood-related. They have killed more than 200 people and affected 25 million coastal residents to varying degrees.
If we save the Pacific, we save ourselves
“At three degrees of warming, our current trajectory, sea levels will rise much faster,” the UN Secretary-General warned, speaking in Tonga. “This portends catastrophe: large-scale and severe natural disasters will be much more intense.”
Antonio Guterres called on governments to fulfill the promise made at the last UN Climate Change Conference and present new national action plans by next year. They must be consistent with the 1.5 degree limit and cover all emissions and all sectors of the economy, the UN chief stressed.
“If we save the Pacific, we save ourselves. The world must answer the SOS before it is too late,” the Secretary-General concluded.