United Nations Headquarters, New York
Overview
The High-level Meeting on Sea Level Rise will convene global leaders, experts and other stakeholders to address the urgent and escalating threat of rising sea levels. This meeting will focus on building common understanding, mobilizing political leadership and promoting multisectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation towards the objective of “addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise”. Participants will work towards developing comprehensive solutions and actionable commitments to combat sea level rise, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future including for small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas.
The High-level Meeting on Sea Level Rise is being held in accordance with Assembly decision of 1 August 2024.
Background
Sea-level rise is no longer a distant or abstract threat. It is already affecting communities and economies in every region, intensifying coastal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion and the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity that protect communities and sustain livelihoods. These pressures are expected to compound as climate-related hazards become more frequent and severe.
For small island developing States, low-lying coastal countries, delta regions, coastal communities and cities, sea-level rise threatens every dimension of sustainable development. Its effects extend to housing, health, food and water security, infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, fiscal stability, culture and heritage. It also risks reversing hard-won development gains, deepening inequality and placing additional strain on national institutions and public services.
At , the General Assembly elevated sea-level rise as a matter of global concern and reinforced the need for political leadership and concerted global action. This week’s meeting is a direct response to that call. It will provide a platform for Heads of State and Government, ministers and other senior representatives to identify practical priorities and galvanize collective action for the coming decade.
The High-level Meeting will focus on measures that can protect lives and livelihoods now, preserve development gains, support those facing unavoidable impacts and strengthen the international architecture for long-term response while delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of 2030.
Documents
Take part
Member States and observers
Inscription on the list of speakers is through the . The list opened on 19 August and closes on Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Arrangements for delegations
Arrangements for all the high-level meetings of the general debate period are set out in the information note for delegations, .
Watch
The meeting is webcast on UN Web TV. The President’s statement and the outcome of the meeting will be posted on this page once issued.
High-Level Week
The 81st Session will be rich with milestone events that will test our collective resolve — from addressing the existential threats of sea-level rise, to pandemic preparedness, to commemorating the Right to Development at forty, nuclear disarmament, and the Durban legacy at twenty-five. Each is more than a date on a calendar. Each is an opportunity to demonstrate that multilateralism can deliver concrete results.
H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman
Vision statement
