Tarique Rahman Urges Global Action Against Sea-Level Rise

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of Bangladesh and Prime Minister Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines addressed a high-level meeting on the existential threats of sea-level rise at the United Nations Headquarters. Speaking on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Rahman warned that a 25-centimetre rise in sea level by 2050 could submerge 4% of Bangladesh's land and affect 10 million people.

Rahman proposed four urgent global actions to mitigate these risks: deeper emissions cuts to maintain the 1.5-degree Celsius target, predictable climate finance, increased access to climate-smart technology, and international cooperation on climate-induced displacement. He emphasized that the ocean reacts to every tonne of carbon released and that vulnerable nations cannot face these consequences alone.

To bolster domestic resilience, Rahman detailed plans to excavate 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals and reach a target of 20% renewable electricity by 2030. Prime Minister Godwin Friday also delivered remarks, identifying sea-level rise as a critical issue for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.