TONGA — "The Pacific is today the most vulnerable area of the world,” told United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga. He issued a stern warning to major polluters, stating they have a "clear responsibility" to drastically cut emissions or face the looming threat of global catastrophe.

“There is an enormous injustice in relation to the Pacific, and it’s the reason I am here. The small islands don’t contribute to climate change, but everything that happens because of climate change is multiplied here.” Guterres highlighted the severe impact of climate change on Pacific island nations, describing the situation as a significant injustice.

In a powerful speech at the forum, Guterres emphasized that while these small islands bear minimal responsibility for global warming, they suffer the most severe consequences. He warned that the "surging seas are coming for us all" as the UN released two reports underscoring the existential threats posed by rising sea levels to Pacific island nations.

One of the reports, issued by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), detailed the multiple environmental challenges faced by the South West Pacific region, including accelerated sea level rise, ocean warming, and acidification—the latter driven by increased carbon dioxide absorption in the oceans.

“The reason is clear: greenhouse gases—overwhelmingly generated by burning fossil fuels—are cooking our planet,” Guterres declared. “The sea is taking the heat—literally.”

The urgency of the situation was underscored on the forum’s opening day when the new auditorium was flooded due to heavy rains, and buildings had to be evacuated following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Tonga region. Joseph Sikulu, Pacific director at the climate advocacy group 350, reflected on the stark reminder of the region's volatility: "It's such a stark reminder of how volatile things are within our region, and how important it is that we need to prepare for everything."

Amidst these challenges, a parade featuring dancers from various Pacific communities, including the Torres Strait Islanders, Tongans, and Samoans, took place near the forum's venue. The event included banners with powerful messages such as "We are not drowning, we are fighting" and "Sea levels are rising—so are we."

This year's theme for the forum, "transformative resilience," was tested in real-time, illustrating the region's determination to face climate challenges head-on. The UN Climate Action Team also released a report titled "Surging Seas in a Warming World," which highlighted that global average sea levels are rising at unprecedented rates, unseen in the past 3,000 years. The report revealed that sea levels have risen an average of 9.4 cm (3.7 inches) globally over the past 30 years, with the tropical Pacific experiencing an even higher rise of up to 15 cm.

Sikulu stressed the importance of global leaders witnessing the situation firsthand: "It's important for leaders, especially like Australia and Aotearoa, to come and witness these things for themselves, but also witness the resilience of our people. A core part of Tongan culture is our ability to be able to continue to be joyful throughout our adversity, and that's how we practice our resilience."

This marked the second time that Secretary-General Guterres participated in the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, which annually gathers leaders from 18 Pacific Islands, including Australia and New Zealand. Reflecting on his 2019 visit to Tuvalu, where he first sounded the alarm on rising sea levels, Guterres acknowledged the progress made but emphasized that significant challenges remain.

“We see everywhere an enormous commitment to resist, a commitment to reduce the negative impact of climate change,” Guterres said. “The problem is, the Pacific Islands also suffer another big injustice—the international financial instruments that exist to support countries in distress were not designed for countries like this.”

Guterres visited local communities in Tonga that are directly threatened by rising sea levels, noting that they have been waiting for seven years for a decision on funding for a sea wall. He criticized the "bureaucracy, complexity, and lack of sense of urgency" in the international financial system, particularly concerning small, developing island states.

“There are promises of increases of money available for adaptation in developing countries, but the truth is we are far from what is needed, from the solidarity that is needed for these countries to be able to exist,” he lamented.

Many Pacific Islanders attending the conference pointed out Australia’s significant role as the region's largest donor and emitter. Earlier this year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to continue extracting and using gas until “2050 and beyond,” despite global calls to phase out fossil fuels.

“There is an essential responsibility of the big polluters,” Guterres asserted when asked about regional emitters like Australia. He warned that without substantial emission cuts, the world would exceed the 1.5°C warming threshold set by the Paris Agreement in 2015, a goal crucial for preventing the irreversible collapse of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica.

“Only by limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius do we have a fighting chance of preventing the irreversible collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets—and the catastrophes that accompany them,” Guterres stated. “That means cutting global emissions by 43% compared to 2019 levels by 2030, and 60% by 2035.”

Despite this urgent call to action, global emissions rose by 1% last year. Guterres emphasized the critical role of the G20 nations, which are responsible for 80% of global emissions, in reversing the current trend. “There is an obligation of the G20 to come together, to guarantee a reduction of emissions now,” he said. He further called out companies contributing to global emissions, declaring, “They have a clear responsibility to reverse the current trend. It’s time to say 'enough'.”