Overview

• Sea levels in the Asia-Pacific region are rising significantly faster than the global average, posing a severe threat to coastal communities.
• The World Meteorological Organization reports that sea surface temperatures in the southwest Pacific have risen three times faster than the global average since 1980.
• NASA analysis shows that Pacific Island nations will experience at least 8 inches of sea level rise in the next 30 years, regardless of future greenhouse gas emissions.
• Increased sea levels are leading to more frequent and intense weather events, such as cyclones, floods, and droughts, particularly affecting low-lying islands like Tuvalu and Kiribati.
• The upcoming UN climate summit COP29 in November will focus on climate finance to help vulnerable countries reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.