Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, 

Mr. Dennis Francis,

at

Reception of Coalition on addressing Sea-Level Rise and its Existential Threats

05 February 2024

Permanent Representative of Germany, Her Excellency, Antje Leendertse,

Permanent Representative of Tuvalu, His Excellency, Tapugao Falefou,

Members of the Coalition on addressing Sea-Level Rise,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Thank you ever so much to the Coalition on addressing Sea-Level Rise and its Existential Threats for extending this kind invitation.  

I stand before you today with a great sense of purpose, hope and anticipation – as I reflect on the transformative strides, we, have made collectively in recent months.

Our journey began at the Breakfast Summit on 21 September 2023, where our dialogue paved the way for the establishment of this very Coalition – which has proven to be a gamechanger in advocating our collective goals.

On this, I must extend my heartfelt gratitude to the co-chairs – Germany and Tuvalu – for embracing this challenge with energy and dedication.

The Coalition’s dedication echoed loudly at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in the Cook Islands, which I had the honour of attending, and that culminated in the launch of the Pacific Island Communities Climate Fund – a lifeline for frontline communities – as well as in a joint pledge to interject our concerns on sea-level rise in all multilateral fora.

Enriched by these ambitions, I witnessed our shared dedication materialize into concrete steps at the Ministerial meeting of C-SET during COP28 and then take a giant leap forward with the General Assembly’s decision to convene a high-level meeting on this pressing issue come 25 September 2024.

Following the recent decision by the Assembly, I will confirm the appointment of the two co-facilitators of the modalities process leading to the September meeting with the issue of formal correspondence tomorrow. It had been the intention to do so today, but for the fact that in publishing the full slate of co-facilitators for this and other inter-governmental processes, an administrative glitch has pre-empted that act.

I count on Member States, and this esteemed Coalition, to wholeheartedly engage and actively participate in the ensuing preparatoryprocess.

In the meantime, the Fourth Conference on Small Island Developing States – which will take place in Antigua and Barbuda in May – will be the occasion for us to collectively strive to ensure the best possible outcome emerges from the September High-Level Meeting.

Colleagues,

Make no mistake, the High-Level Meeting in September has the potential to be the crescendo of our efforts; to deliver on promises and to ease anxieties for millions of people living in Small Island Developing States in all regions of the world.

I seize this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you for your support thus far.

These accomplishments underscore that the world is starting to listen and to pay attention to these grave concerns.

We should rightfully be gratified and further motivated by these achievements, but I caution against arrogance and confidence.

While we have made much progress, we still have a long way to go – and apart from being profound, the challenges ahead are many andmultiplying.

Indeed, we all know that the crises of our time transcend borders and generations – with climate change being arguably our most formidable foe.

Sea levels echo the consequences of our actions – or lack thereof – across oceans and against every shore.

 

Close to a billion people live in low-lying coastal zones, teetering on the precipice of looming peril – the imminent specter of losing their homes and homelands to the inexorable rise of sea levels.

For Small Island Developing States, sea-level rise is not just a material threat.

Not only does it jeopardize livelihoods – it erodes cultural and historical heritage.

The scope of its damage encompasses environmental, legal, political, technical, economic, cultural, and human rights dimensions – ultimately threatening the very statehood, maritime territorial integrity, and national identity of countries.

Hailing from a Small Island Developing State myself, I am resolute in ensuring that the critical issue of sea-level rise garners the attention of the international community it rightfully deserves.

I commit to advocating for the comprehensive support of the UN General Assembly to safeguard the homelands and heritage of Small Island Developing States – as championed by those in this very room.

In facing this stark reality, I know we will continue to act with urgency and determination.

I take great pride in seeing these deliberations take place in the General Assembly and I pledge to keep my door open to any Member State seeking to advance progress on this critical issue.

Excellencies,

We must maintain this momentum.

We need to build resilience, spur innovation, and nurture strategic collaborative relationships.

In navigating the challenges of these rising tides, let us sculpt a lasting legacy – by seizing opportunities, championing solutions, fostering unity, and prioritizing environmental stewardship.

I eagerly anticipate the prospect of advancing our shared priorities together, throughout the remainder of the 78th session.

I thank you.