NEW YORK, USA – September 25, 2025 — H.E. President Hilda C. Heine delivered a statement at the Global Climate Adaptation Action: Shaping Resilient Futures event, hosted by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The high-level dialogue was co-convened with the Governments of Norway and Kenya and brought together leaders from across Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside global partners advancing the climate adaptation agenda.
The event aimed to reaffirm political commitment to accelerate global adaptation action, build momentum toward COP30, and elevate the voices of vulnerable countries and regions most affected by climate impacts. Leaders also highlighted practical solutions and partnerships to strengthen resilience in communities worldwide.
In her statement, President Heine emphasized that adaptation is the Marshall Islands’ most urgent priority, given the threats posed by rising seas, water insecurity, and increasing climate risks. She underscored the importance of ensuring that international support for adaptation is timely, accessible, and fair, while not increasing debt burdens for vulnerable states. President Heine also highlighted the progress the Marshall Islands is making through its National Adaptation Plan, which identifies urgent needs such as coastal protection, shoreline stabilization, and improving water security for outer island communities. She called for stronger global partnerships to deliver predictable and scaled-up financing for these efforts.
As a Board Member of the Global Center on Adaptation, President Heine reaffirmed the Marshall Islands’ support for the GCA’s mission and encouraged further initiatives to ensure that small island states in the Pacific can benefit from the same scale of action being pioneered in other regions.
By participating in this dialogue, President Heine reiterated the Marshall Islands’ leadership in advocating for urgent and just climate action, ensuring that the priorities of small island states remain central to the global agenda as the world moves toward COP30.
