UN General Assembly Adopts Its First Declaration on Sea-Level Rise
The UN General Assembly adopted its first-ever declaration on sea-level rise on 24 September 2026 at a high-level meeting in New York during its 81st session. The four-page text states that countries threatened by rising oceans do not automatically lose statehood if territory is submerged, and supports the continuity of maritime zones such as territorial seas and exclusive economic zones under UNCLOS even as coastlines shift. It calls for stronger protection of coastal communities, early-warning systems and adaptation finance. Agreed by member states including the United States, it builds on the ICJ's July 2025 advisory opinion and a 2024 ITLOS opinion.
The UN General Assembly is the UN's main deliberative organ and has 193 member states | The ICJ is the UN's principal judicial organ and sits at The Hague, while ITLOS was established under UNCLOS | Global mean sea level rose 5.9 mm in 2024, the highest annual increase recorded