Rising Waters: Pacific Islands Face Exponential Threat

Sea level rises in the Pacific Ocean are exceeding the global average, posing a grave threat to low-lying island states, according to a WMO report. Increased temperatures and fossil fuel emissions are driving this alarming trend. The report emphasizes the urgent need for improved early warning systems in vulnerable regions.

Sea level rises in the Pacific Ocean are surpassing the global average, jeopardizing low-lying island states, a recent report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed.

Globally, sea levels have been rising due to higher temperatures caused by the ongoing burning of fossil fuels. This phenomenon accelerates the melting of ice sheets and the thermal expansion of ocean water. However, the WMO report highlighted that the average annual sea level increase in the Pacific, specifically north and east of Australia, was "significantly higher" than the global rate of 3.4 millimeters per year over the past three decades.

"Human activities have weakened the capacity of the ocean to sustain and protect us, transforming it from a lifelong friend into a growing threat," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo at the release of the regional State of the Climate report 2023 during a forum in Tonga.

(With inputs from agencies.)