UN chief says Pacific territories face climate 'annihilation' August 24, 2024
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- Aug 23, 2024
- 2 min read
By AFP - Agence France Presse
UN chief says Pacific territories face climate 'annihilation'
UN chief António Guterres warned Thursday that some Pacific territories face “annihilation” from climate-induced cyclones, ocean heatwaves, and rising sea levels.
On a visit to Samoa, he said that the fate of the Pacific islands depends on limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Around 200 nations agreed to strive for this goal in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, but UN estimates indicate that the world is not on track to achieve it.
“High and rising sea levels pose a huge threat to Samoa, the Pacific, and other small island developing states, and these challenges require resolute international action,” said Guterres.
The Pacific region contributes only 0.02% of global carbon emissions, he noted.
“Yet you are on the front line of the climate crisis, dealing with extreme weather events, from furious tropical cyclones to record-breaking ocean heatwaves,” continued the UN Secretary-General.
“Sea levels are rising even faster than the global average, posing an existential threat to millions of Pacific Islanders,” he added.
“People are suffering. Economies are being destroyed. And entire territories face annihilation.”
Guterres called on the richest nations to fulfill their commitments to help pay for the consequences of climate change in developing countries.
He also called for international action to tackle the impact of climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean.
Guterres said that the great powers' interest in the region was increasing, an allusion to the contest for power and influence in the Pacific between China and the United States and its allies.
“The Pacific is best managed by Pacific Islanders,” said the UN chief. “It must never become a forum for geostrategic competition.”
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