UN General Assembly approves Declaration on Sea Level Rise by consensus

24 September 2026

World leaders approved the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise by consensus at a high-level meeting of the General Assembly on Thursday, 24 September 2026. The declaration covers better observation, shared data and early warning; more predictable and accessible funding, especially for small island and least developed countries; protection of coastal livelihoods and culture; and a presumption in favour of continued statehood and the ability to maintain maritime zones established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, despite rising seas. Secretary-General António Guterres said global sea levels rose by almost six millimetres in 2024, the largest annual increase ever recorded, and that around 770 million people live less than five metres above the high-tide line. He said emissions must fall 60 per cent by 2035 and adaptation finance must triple. Cabo Verde co-facilitated the negotiations. The declaration calls for a further high-level meeting before the end of the General Assembly's 84th session.