FLOODS
As we speak, at least 20 people have died and more than 5.2 million have been affected in Bangladesh by floods caused by relentless monsoon rains and overflowing rivers.
On August 26, 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a global SOS from Tonga, urging governments to ramp up climate action to “Save Our Seas.” Speaking in Nuku’alofa, he highlighted the urgent need for drastic emission cuts, a swift phase-out of fossil fuels, and significant investments in climate adaptation to protect against rising sea levels.
Guterres emphasized that rising seas, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, are a crisis of humanity’s making, with unprecedented sea level rise threatening coastal regions, especially in the Pacific. He warned that without immediate action, the world faces severe and frequent coastal flooding.
Two new UN reports underscore the accelerating changes in the ocean, with devastating impacts. Monthly sea temperatures continue to break records, marine heatwaves are more intense and frequent, and rising seas are amplifying storm surges and coastal flooding.
The reports reveal that the Southwestern Pacific has experienced sea level rises more than double the global average in some areas. With most of the population and infrastructure located near the coast, Pacific islands are uniquely vulnerable. Without drastic emission cuts, these islands could see significant additional sea level rise and frequent coastal flooding by mid-century.
Guterres called for urgent global action, stating, “If we save the Pacific, we also save ourselves. The world must act and answer the SOS before it is too late.”
