Rising seas pose ‘unthinkable’ risks to billions around the world, with profound implications for security, international law, human rights and the very fabric of societies, the UN security council was informed as it held its first-ever debate on the phenomenon’s global implications.
Opening the discussions, UN secretary-general António Guterres said, “The impact of rising seas is already creating new sources of instability and conflict. Some nations’ coastlines have already seen triple the average rate of sea level rise and in the coming decades, low-lying communities – and entire countries – could disappear forever.
He said, “We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale, and we would see ever-fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources.”
The security council was informed that saltwater intrusion can decimate jobs and entire economies in industries like agriculture, fisheries and tourism, and it can damage or destroy vital infrastructure, such as transportation systems, hospitals and schools.
According to recently released data from the World Meteorological Organization, global average sea levels have risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in the last 3,000 years.
Mr Guterres said that under any temperature rise scenario, countries from Bangladesh to China, India and the Netherlands will all be at risk.
Mega-cities on every continent will face serious impacts, including Lagos, Bangkok, Mumbai, Shanghai, London, Buenos Aires and New York.
The danger is especially acute for some 900m people living in coastal zones at low elevations – one out of every 10 people on earth. M