NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that accelerating sea-level rise is increasing risks for coastal communities and economies worldwide. He spoke at a UN General Assembly high-level meeting in New York on September 24. Guterres said about 770 million people live less than five metres above the high-tide line. Global mean sea level rose 5.9 millimetres in 2024, the largest annual increase on record. The meeting focused on risks facing low-lying states, coastal cities and vulnerable communities.
The World Meteorological Organization has documented a sharp acceleration in global sea-level rise during the satellite era. The annual rate increased from 2.1 millimetres in 1993-2002 to 4.7 millimetres in 2015-2024. WMO data show that 2024 reached the highest global mean sea level in the satellite record. Ocean warming causes seawater to expand, while melting glaciers and ice sheets add water to the oceans. These processes increase exposure to coastal flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects further increases across every assessed emissions pathway this century. Under a very low emissions scenario, global mean sea level could rise 0.28 to 0.55 metres by 2100. Under a very high emissions scenario, the likely range reaches 0.63 to 1.01 metres. Those projections use the 1995-2014 average as their reference period. Guterres urged governments to cut emissions while expanding measures that protect communities from climate impacts.
Sea-level rise accelerates worldwide
The General Assembly adopted a political declaration on sea-level rise by consensus during the September 24 meeting. The declaration addresses science, financing, resilience, international cooperation and legal issues linked to rising seas. It also calls for stronger early-warning systems and more predictable financing for vulnerable countries. General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman highlighted the accelerating pace of global sea-level rise during the session. He also noted that ports handle more than 80% of global merchandise trade, linking coastal risks to worldwide supply chains.
Small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas received particular attention during the United Nations meeting. Rising seas can damage homes, roads, power systems, farmland and freshwater supplies while increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems. The declaration also addresses risks to livelihoods, cultural heritage and communities exposed to repeated coastal flooding. Governments discussed international cooperation as countries respond to physical and legal consequences linked to changing coastlines. The meeting followed a General Assembly decision adopted in 2024 to strengthen international action on sea-level rise.
UN declaration focuses on resilience and climate action
Guterres called for action in three areas: reducing emissions, protecting communities and addressing legal gaps created by sea-level rise. He also urged faster expansion of renewable energy and stronger energy-efficiency measures as part of global emissions reductions. Adaptation measures include resilient infrastructure, effective warning systems and support for communities facing greater coastal hazards. The United Nations has identified sea-level rise as a major challenge for development, food systems and economic stability. Coastal impacts can also disrupt transport networks and international trade.
Scientific assessments indicate that sea levels will continue rising through the 21st century as oceans warm and land ice melts. The IPCC says sea-level rise will continue for centuries to millennia because oceans and ice sheets respond slowly to warming. WMO has also warned that ocean warming and sea-level rise carry effects lasting hundreds of years. The new UN declaration provides a common framework covering resilience, finance, science and international law. Its adoption places sea-level rise among the central climate issues addressed during the General Assembly’s 2026 high-level meetings.