General Assembly Plenary Adoption of UN Declaration On Sea Level Rise
Intervention delivered by H.E Ambassador James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
12 October 2026
Thank you, President.
Rising seas are no longer a warning for the future.
They are a lived reality for millions of people, and a challenge no nation can meet alone.
I commend the exemplary leadership demonstrated by Small Island Developing States in drawing global attention to sea level rise.
We must face these challenges together to preserve the dignity, rights and future choices of those affected.
Through this Declaration the international community has built a new framework for meeting sea level rise head on. A framework grounded in science; one that reinforces the crucial role of international law, including UNCLOS. And a framework that affirms the fundamental principle that people facing the consequences of climate change must not face them alone. It’s vital the United Nations remains the place where all countries have a voice.
By affirming statehood continues in the face of sea level rise, the Declaration ensures all of us here today will still have our seat at the United Nations in decades to come, and that we will always carry the rights, entitlements and responsibilities we have as sovereign nations.
As cofacilitator, allow me to extend deep gratitude to colleagues for their dedication and perseverance in advancing the global response to sea level rise.
Together we have demonstrated this Assembly remains ready to speak with one voice and achieve meaningful consensus on critical global issues.
The road test is what we do next. The impacts are accelerating, the costs of inaction are growing, and every fraction of a degree matters.