NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that faster sea-level rise is increasing risks for hundreds of millions of people. He delivered the warning during a UN General Assembly high-level meeting in New York. About 770 million people live less than five metres above the high-tide line, according to UN figures. Global mean sea level rose 5.9 millimetres in 2024. That marked the largest annual increase recorded during the satellite era and added to concerns for low-lying communities.
Sea levels have risen at an accelerating pace over the past three decades. The World Meteorological Organization recorded an average annual increase of 2.1 millimetres between 1993 and 2002. That rate climbed to 4.7 millimetres a year during 2015-2024. WMO data also show that global mean sea level reached a record high in 2024. Warmer oceans expand as temperatures rise, while melting glaciers and ice sheets add more water. Both processes contribute directly to long-term sea-level growth.
Scientific projections show that further sea-level rise will continue under every emissions pathway assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC projects a rise of 0.28 to 0.55 metres by 2100 under a very low emissions scenario. Its very high emissions scenario projects an increase of 0.63 to 1.01 metres. Those figures use the 1995-2014 average as the reference period. Guterres called for stronger emissions cuts and wider protection for communities exposed to coastal hazards.
Rising seas increase pressure on coastal communities
The UN General Assembly meeting placed particular focus on small island states and low-lying coastal regions. Rising seas can increase flooding, accelerate erosion and allow saltwater to enter freshwater supplies and farmland. Coastal infrastructure also faces greater exposure as water levels rise. Homes, transport networks, power systems and ports can all face disruption from coastal hazards. The United Nations has identified sea-level rise as a major challenge for development, food security, infrastructure and economic activity in exposed regions.
Governments at the meeting approved a political declaration addressing sea-level rise and its growing international impact. The text covers scientific cooperation, resilience, financing and legal questions linked to changing coastlines. It also calls for stronger early-warning systems and greater support for vulnerable countries. General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman highlighted the sharp increase in the annual rate of sea-level rise. The meeting formed part of wider UN efforts to address climate risks affecting countries with extensive coastlines and limited adaptation resources.
Climate science points to a long-term challenge
Guterres urged governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening protection for people already exposed to rising seas. He also stressed renewable energy, energy efficiency and resilient infrastructure as parts of the broader climate response. Adaptation measures include coastal protection, improved warning systems and infrastructure designed for higher water levels. The World Meteorological Organization says ocean warming and land-ice loss remain major drivers of sea-level rise. These changes affect communities across both developed and developing economies with vulnerable coastlines.
The IPCC says global sea levels will keep rising for centuries because oceans and ice sheets respond slowly to warming. The scale of future increases depends on greenhouse gas emissions and the response of major ice sheets. Current observations already show a faster rate than during the early years of the satellite record. The UN meeting brought governments together around scientific evidence, resilience and international cooperation. Its declaration adds sea-level rise to the central climate issues receiving sustained attention at the General Assembly.