Sea-level rise a global issue, no single nation to bear burden: Pres

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that the sea-level rise is a global issue that is not caused by a single country, and no single country should bear the burden alone.

He made the remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Sea Level Rise: Interactive dialogue 3: Livelihoods, Socio-Economic Challenges, and Culture and Heritage in Relation to Sea-Level Rise, held on the sidelines of the 79^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

“Sea-level rise, caused by climate change, is a challenge for coastal communities – a Trojan horse that conceals a myriad of threats to our shorelines, communities, cultures, and survival,” President Muizzu said, while opening his remarks.

He highlighted that the danger of sea-level rise as a slow on-set event has been a serious concern for a low-lying nation like the Maldives, and noted that 80 percent of the country stands less than one meter above the “encroaching tides”.

“Nearly half of our population, and almost as many homes, are within a mere 100 meters of the coastline,” Muizzu said.

He further said that the Maldives has been “sounding the alarm” since 1987 but to no avail as the situation had only intensified.

While noting that the Maldives has heard about the economic losses, threats to food and water security, and risk of forced migration because of sea level rise, President Muizzu stressed that “no Maldivian would” willingly abandon their country.

At this meeting, President Muizzu highlighted three key points focused on exploring the impacts on livelihoods, socio-economic challenges, and cultural heritage.

He first urged for the economic diversification, imploring international support and stronger action to reduce emissions to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius goal, but added this is insufficient to protect the Maldives’ shores.

“We need to protect sustainable livelihoods of those whose lives have always depended on the ocean – a resource that has sustained us for several millennia,” Muizzu said.

He next called to pursue economic resilience, noting that the Maldives cannot stand to lose its identity, culture, and heritage. He underscored the importance of safeguarding cultural identity, which required more than words.

“It demands robust policies, resources, and resilient infrastructure,” President Muizzu said, adding the need to empower communities, especially women and youth.

Lastly, Muizzu urged to rethink how countries approached discussions on sea-level rise, adding that the affected and displaced communities “should not be left to fend for themselves.”

While noting that the rise of sea level cannot be attributed to any single country, and its burden should be borne by everyone as it is a global issue, Muizzu called the United Nations to use the high-level meeting as a catalyst for further discussions.

He further said that the future generations would expect the current generations to be more empathetic, innovative, and adaptive. He added that everyone deserved a future whether their livelihoods and cultures are secure.

“It is time to move beyond dialogue to decisive action.”

President Muizzu also noted that the Maldives brought this issue to the forefront over 30 years ago, and added that while the stakes are now “higher than ever”, the countries are still making the same pleas.