World leaders approved a new United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise on 24 September, setting out commitments on science, finance, resilience and international law as coastal communities face growing risks from global warming.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that sea levels rose by almost six millimetres in 2024, the largest annual increase recorded, with around 770 million people living less than five metres above the high-tide line.
The declaration calls for stronger early-warning systems, more predictable financing for vulnerable countries and protection for livelihoods and cultural heritage, while supporting continued statehood and existing maritime zones despite physical changes caused by rising seas.
Member States agreed to return to the issue before the end of the General Assembly's 84th session, keeping sea-level rise on the UN's high-level agenda.