Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Mr President,
New Zealand would like to acknowledge Mr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the General Assembly for the 81st session in his role as chair for this High-Level Meeting.
Sea-level rise is a priority for New Zealand.
Addressing sea-level rise is particularly important for Small Island Developing States and low-lying coastal states who are already facing the harsh implications of rising seas. It degrades habitability and adversely impacts everyday ways of life.
As a Pacific nation, we are aware that climate change and sea-level rise are the defining issues that imperil the livelihoods and wellbeing of Pacific peoples.
The consequences of sea-level rise are not distant scenarios, we must act now.
New Zealand welcomes the progress made since the first inaugural High-Level Meeting on this issue, which we had the honour of co-chairing alongside Costa Rica in 2024.
We would like to extend our warm thanks to Australia and Cabo Verde for their leadership as co-facilitators for the Sea-Level Rise Declaration Negotiation Process. New Zealand is pleased that the Political Declaration addresses the multi-dimensional challenges presented by sea-level rise through its four pillars.
New Zealand has consistently stated that the international community should respond to the priorities of small nations, as well as the large. This Declaration is an example of the United Nations doing just that.
New Zealand particularly welcomes the Declaration’s affirmation of the preservation of maritime zones and on the presumption of continued statehood notwithstanding sea-level rise. We also welcome the Declaration’s encouragement to mainstream sea level rise into all relevant processes.
We recognise the important work of the Pacific Islands Forum in leading the way on the legal dimensions of sea-level rise, including in the 2021 Declaration on the preservation of maritime zones, and the 2023 Declaration on the Continuity of Statehood and Protection of Persons.
States should be clear eyed that sea-level rise is a global phenomenon that will have implications for us all. Advancing international cooperation on this issue is integral for a more peaceful, secure and sustainable future.
That is why it is essential that the UN General Assembly has an enduring focus on this issue.
New Zealand reaffirms its commitment to working with a diverse coalition of partners to respond to the impacts of sea-level rise and to prioritise the protection of communities and nations from it.
Thank you, Mr. President.