[ti:UN Chief Issues Urgent Warning of Danger from Rising Pacific Sea Levels]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-08-30]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that rising ocean temperatures present urgent risks for people living in the Pacific Islands.
[00:15.33]Guterres made the comment while at the Pacific Islands Forum taking place in Tonga.
[00:23.54]The country is a collection of about 170 islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
[00:32.88]The U.N. chief said studies suggest the southwestern Pacific faces more extreme sea level rise than other parts of the world. 
[00:45.98]The problem, he added, is linked to sea temperatures in the area that in some cases are three times higher than worldwide levels.
[00:58.62]Warmer temperatures cause water to expand and this can cause sea level rise.
[01:07.05]"I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS - Save Our Seas - on rising sea levels," Guterres said.
[01:18.60]The U.N. leader said that rising seas were "amplifying" the number and severity of storms and coastal flooding across the area.
[01:31.84]He said such flooding can destroy fisheries, damage crops and poison water.
[01:40.56]"All this puts Pacific Island nations in grave danger," he said.
[01:48.15]A report recently released by the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization showed ocean temperatures in the southwestern Pacific are increasing at up to three times the worldwide rate.
[02:06.02]Guterres said the Pacific islands are especially at risk because much of their land is "just one to two meters above sea level."
[02:18.44]And, he added, "Half the infrastructure is within 500 meters of the sea."
[02:27.25]Many scientists blame the planet's rising temperatures on pollution from fossil fuel use. 
[02:36.96]Guterres said the Pacific Islands can expect additional sea level rise of 15 centimeters by 2050 if the pollution levels do not drop.
[02:52.14]Guterres urged world leaders to greatly increase the level of climate-related investments, especially for at-risk countries, to help fight the problem.
[03:06.15]Delegates to the 2023 U.N. climate change conference approved the establishment of a "loss and damage" fund to help poor nations deal with climate disasters.
[03:22.61]"Developed countries must deliver on their finance commitments," Guterres said.
[03:31.14]He added that one commitment calls for doubling financing to at least $40 billion a year by 2025.
[03:42.23]I'm Bryan Lynn.