New York, NY — Her Excellency President Hilda C. Heine attended the Leaders Breakfast on Addressing the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-Level Rise, hosted by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) on September 26, 2024, during the High-Level Week of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
This meeting focused on the urgent challenges of sea-level rise, particularly for low-lying countries already facing significant impacts. President Heine emphasized, “We are on the frontlines, facing urgent immediate impacts and challenging long-term projections. Loss and damage is our daily reality.”
President Heine welcomed the increased political attention to this issue, especially as nations prepare their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP29 in Baku. Her Excellency Heine called on the G20, which accounts for 80% of global emissions, to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement and to increase grant-based adaptation finance for vulnerable nations.
Reiterating the position of the Pacific Islands Forum, President Heine stated there is no legal basis for sovereignty to be compromised by climate change-induced sea-level rise. “The law is on our side, and any contrary outcome would be a travesty of climate injustice,” she concluded.
