World leaders need to see rising oceans in Pacific
Noting last week's deadly floods in Nepal, UN deputy secretary-general Amina Mohammed said rising seas in the Pacific were the 'other side of that story'.
A UN report revealed that sea levels are rising at an unprecedented rate, potentially forcing 1.2 billion people to relocate by 2050 due to warming oceans and melting glaciers, according to a top UN official in Palau. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized the need for world leaders to witness the reality of rising seas in the Pacific, as the Pacific is experiencing sea level rise at twice the global average.
The UN is urging G20 leaders to attend a meeting in October hosted by Tuvalu, a country vulnerable to climate change, ahead of the upcoming UN climate summit in Turkey. Palau's environment minister stressed that the Pacific nations are not seeking handouts but require assistance to cope with the threats to their communities. Coral reefs are also under severe pressure, with a 9.5% decline in global hard coral cover over 40 years, largely attributed to climate change, according to another UN report.
The frequency of marine heatwaves has accelerated the decline of reefs, which are essential to the livelihoods of around 100 million people.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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