Pacific Island Nations Look to UN as Rising Seas Threaten Their Survival

As the United Nations General Assembly prepares to hold a special session this week, leaders from Pacific island nations like Kiribati are hoping to draw attention to the existential threat posed by rising sea levels. Experts warn that due to climate change, many atolls are already facing the irreversible effects of sea level rise, threatening the very survival of these low-lying nations.

Kiribati, a Pacific nation surrounded by the ocean, is facing a growing crisis on land. Rising sea levels are contaminating freshwater supplies, as saltwater seeps into underground wells and the soil. "Our waters have been compromised," says climate activist and law student Christine Tekanene. "The people impacted can no longer survive on the water that has changed due to sea level rise."

This freshwater crisis is just one of the challenges brought about by rising seas in Kiribati. The country's population lives on a series of atolls that rise only a few meters above sea level. As global temperatures increase and polar ice sheets melt, Kiribati and other similar nations are experiencing frequent flooding, coastal erosion, and worsening food and water insecurity.

The UN General Assembly's high-level meeting this week will address the severe threats posed by rising sea levels, an issue that has become increasingly prominent on the global agenda. Last year, the UN Security Council discussed the matter for the first time. This meeting seeks to build political momentum for actions aimed at tackling the social, economic, and legal challenges that come with rising seas.

Samoa's UN representative, Dr. Fatumanava Pa'olelei Luteru, emphasized the urgency of this session, calling it "long overdue" and crucial for island nations. "We may not be powerful economically or militarily," said Luteru, who also chairs the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), "but within the UN framework, we have the chance to engage and achieve priorities important to us."

"We're Still Fighting"

One of the more contentious issues surrounding sea level rise is whether low-lying nations should prepare for large-scale relocation. Some nations, like Tuvalu, have already considered this and are advocating for international recognition of their sovereignty even if their islands disappear. Kiribati, which bought land in Fiji a decade ago as a potential refuge for its citizens, has since reconsidered this approach.

Ambassador Luteru mentioned that many small island states remain unwilling to surrender their futures and avoid referring to the situation as "existential." "There is a clear desire from our people not to relocate," he said.

Tekanene added that many Pacific Islanders feel offended when questioned about the potential disappearance of their islands. "We're still fighting, not drowning," she stated.

However, some experts argue that the international community must face the harsh reality of disappearing homelands for millions of people living in coastal areas and on small islands. Dr. Benjamin Strauss, CEO of Climate Central, emphasized that while the worst impacts of rising seas can be delayed, they cannot be reversed. "The long-term sea level rise already set in motion will likely submerge many Pacific atolls," he said. "Eventually, the rate and extent of sea level rise will make staying on many islands impossible."

Kamal Amakrane from the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, who has been assisting the UN in preparing for the upcoming meeting, stressed the importance of ensuring that people have "the right to remain" in their homelands while also developing safe, dignified options for those who must relocate. "The international community must create climate migration pathways," Amakrane told The Guardian via email.

Financing these migration pathways and finding ways to protect islands so that populations can remain will require significant funding from wealthier nations. Kiribati is seeking billions in foreign aid to elevate its islands and protect them from the worst impacts of rising seas. Strauss noted that it would take "an almost unimaginable level of geoengineering" to safeguard island nations from these effects. "Many atoll nations lack substantial resources," he added, "so it's uncertain how much they can invest and how much the world is willing to contribute."

For Kiribati, the future looks increasingly grim. A recent NASA report projected that sea levels in the country will rise by up to 50 centimeters by 2050, regardless of global emission reductions. If worst-case scenarios materialize, some of the islands could become uninhabitable, or even disappear entirely, by the end of this century.

Faced with this looming disaster, activists like Tekanene are calling on world leaders to take stronger action to protect their country. "We want developed nations to be held accountable for the historical emissions driving this crisis," she said. "They have the power to help prevent this... far more than we do."