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Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n at the Breakfast Summit on Sea-Level Rise<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n [As Delivered]<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 2<\/span><\/b>1\u00a0September 2023<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n \n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you for joining this High-Level Breakfast\u00a0Summit of which I am delighted to be a co-host\u00a0this morning\u00a0\u2013 on a subject that is so significant to many in attendance here today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Our\u00a0discussion addresses\u00a0an issue of\u00a0immense importance<\/b>, which\u00a0\u2013 for me hailing from a small island state region\u00a0\u2013\u00a0I am wholeheartedly determined\u00a0to\u00a0ensure it receives the attention\u00a0it deserves.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n One consistent message resonating throughout High-Level Week is\u00a0this: the climate crisis is unfolding rapidly, our current efforts are inadequate, and we are racing against the clock.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Today, our focus is on transcending conventional climate policy processes to embrace\u00a0more inclusive and\u00a0innovative\u00a0approaches\u00a0to climate change, including\u00a0sea-level<\/b>\u00a0rise<\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n The multifaceted crises we face transcend borders and span\u00a0generations.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Among them, climate change stands as perhaps the most formidable of all.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n For many, especially Small Island Developing States, it represents\u00a0an\u00a0existential threat.\u00a0This is not speculation or over exaggeration. It is real.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Accordingly, there is a clear expectation for the\u00a0United Nations to substantially intensify\u00a0its efforts\u00a0to address its\u00a0diverse ramifications.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Indeed, the IPCC estimates that global sea levels will rise between 15 and 30 centimetres,\u00a0on average, with greater increases expected in equatorial regions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Extreme sea-level events\u00a0\u2013 which used to occur once every century \u2013 could become an annual phenomenon by the close of this century.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n And,\u00a0a\u00a0staggering\u00a0900<\/b>\u00a0million<\/b>\u00a0people living in low-lying coastal zones are at risk of losing their homes due to rising sea levels and climate impacts.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n This issue extends far\u00a0beyond\u00a0coastal populations\u00a0\u2013 it affects every continent and region, leaving no one immune from\u00a0potential catastrophe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Fertile river deltas like the Mississippi, Mekong, and Nile\u00a0\u2013 the\u00a0world’s breadbaskets<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 are\u00a0sinking<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Urgent, substantial action is imperative to preserve their productivity\u00a0<\/span>and the multitude of livelihoods that depend on them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Rising temperatures\u00a0and ocean acidification also severely impact\u00a0fish populations and their ecosystems\u00a0-exacerbating the challenges faced by\u00a0hundreds of millions<\/b>\u00a0worldwide.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Beyond the\u00a0crushing impacts\u00a0on livelihoods and communities, sea-level rise carries further implications,\u00a0spanning environmental, legal, political, technical, economic, cultural, and human rights dimensions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Not only do we risk losing land,\u00a0but also the rich cultural and historical heritage of these islands and regions\u00a0that have helped to shape people\u2019s identities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n As the adage goes: “Culture is the compass that guides us, and when it is lost, we lose our way in the world.”\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/i>,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n In international\u00a0forums like the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, we must no longer perceive these consequences\u00a0\u2013 including\u00a0climate-induced displacement\u00a0\u2013 as\u00a0issues solely afflicting developing countries.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n This is a global\u00a0challenge requiring solidarity and unity among all nations.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n But we must be mindful that it also raises important questions about the\u00a0essence of our identities<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 as sovereign,\u00a0and united,\u00a0nations.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Sea-level rise threatens the statehood and maritime territorial integrity of countries, particularly for\u00a0Pacific SIDS.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u00a0should safeguard\u00a0the inalienability of the affected countries’ sovereignty.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n The international community must\u00a0act<\/b>\u00a0now<\/b>, as this challenge cannot rest solely on the shoulders of frontline communities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n We must strengthen adaptive capacities, resilience, and mitigate climate-related losses and damages\u00a0through quick impact projects and other solutions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n We must forge strong partnerships to address the adverse impacts of sea-level rise\u00a0\u2013 pooling\u00a0resources, knowledge, and technology.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Let us raise our collective ambition and take bold, much-needed action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Our meeting\u00a0today strategically precedes significant landmark\u00a0summits like COP28 and the 4<\/span>th<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0SIDS Conference.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n I call on you all to prioritize the issue of sea-level rise.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n After today\u2019s Breakfast Summit, I will work with the Global Centre for Climate Mobility\u00a0to follow-up on the commitments made, ensuring accountability and continuous momentum towards our shared goals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n We must see this issue for what it is: an existential threat to nations, peoples, culture, and\u00a0heritage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n I have full confidence that you will accord\u00a0this matter the gravity it rightfully deserves.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Thank<\/span><\/b>\u00a0you<\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,\u00a0 Mr. Dennis Francis,\u00a0 at the Breakfast Summit on Sea-Level Rise [As Delivered]\u00a0 21\u00a0September 2023\u00a0 Excellencies,\u00a0\u00a0 Ladies and Gentlemen,\u00a0 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