New York, 24 September 2026
Mr. President,
The Holy See welcomes the convening of this “High-Level Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-level Rise” as an important opportunity to renew the commitment to address a challenge that is already affecting communities and ecosystems and putting the existence of some communities and States at risk.
Sea-level rise is not just an environmental or scientific issue. It threatens homes and livelihoods, undermines food and water security, and puts cultural heritage and ancestral lands at risk of being lost. Those most affected are often “impoverished coastal populations who have nowhere else to go.”[1]
Mr. President,
Pope Leo XIV calls for a shift “from collecting data to caring”[2]. In this regard, the threat of sea-level rise highlights the “responsibility to promote, through collective and joint commitment, a culture of care, which places human dignity and the common good at the center.”[3] This culture of care must translate knowledge into responsibility and responsibility into action.
This action must be based on solidarity, justice and genuine international cooperation. Strengthened efforts are needed to mitigate climate change, while ensuring that vulnerable States, particularly small island developing States, and low-lying coastal communities, have access to the financial, technological and technical resources necessary for adaptation, resilience, and addressing loss and damage.
Mr. President,
In addressing sea-level rise, it is necessary to ensure that the common commitment is not only measured by the policies adopted, but also by the determination to safeguard the God-given dignity of every person and to build a future of hope for generations to come.
Thank you.
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[1] Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, 48.
[2] Pope Leo XIV, Address to the participants in the “Raising Hope” Conference on the Tenth Anniversary of the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’.
[3] Pope Francis, Video Message for the High-Level Virtual Climate Ambition Summit 2020, 12 December 2020.
