Maldives Statement at the Sea Level Rise High Level Meeting

Mr. President,

Nearly four decades ago, the Maldives brought the consequences of rising seas to the attention of this Assembly.

In 1989, that advocacy led us to convene small island States in Malé and adopt the Malé Declaration on Global Warming and Sea Level Rise.

The warning was clear then and it is more urgent today.

For SIDS, rising seas affect infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, ecosystems and development itself.

But our answer cannot be retreat. It must be resilience.

That calls for action in three areas.

First, adaptation must be financed at scale.

For SIDS, finance must be predictable, accessible, grant-based and concessional. Access must be faster and simpler.

For the Maldives and other low-lying island States, funding must reach early enough to reduce risk.

Sea level rise is already causing damage in the Maldives and other SIDS, affecting our livelihoods and infrastructure.

We cannot address what cannot be measured. This is why a sea level rise observation mechanism is important.

Second, international law must provide certainty.

Rising seas must not undermine the rights and entitlements of States. Lawfully established baselines and maritime zones must remain stable and they must continue.

Statehood and sovereignty cannot be challenged by sea level rise. UN membership must continue. These principles must guide international cooperation. Geography may change. Legal identity must not.

Third, we must build resilience into development itself.

Sea level rise must inform how we design infrastructure, plan our economies and protect livelihoods.

The Maldives is already integrating these measures into national planning through our third NDC. We call on development partners to help countries to scale up such investments.

Nearly four decades after Malé, sea level rise demands sustained attention.

We must turn today’s commitments into action that strengthens resilience and safeguards our future.

I thank you.