# United Nations sea level rise response > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/united-nations-sea-level-rise-response > Updated: 2026-09-24T16:30:39.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 2. The United Nations has moved to address the existential threat posed by rising sea levels through new declarations and resolutions. Following record increases in global sea levels, which reached 5.9 mm in 2024, the UN has emphasized the need for urgent action to protect coastal regions and small island nations. In September 2026, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution addressing these threats. This was followed by heads of state and government formally approving the United Nations Declaration on Sea Level Rise in New York. The declaration aims to strengthen financial and technical cooperation for vulnerable coastal communities and small island states, with a specific emphasis on Pacific regions. Key initiatives focus on improving risk information, reinforcing adaptation strategies, and optimizing early warning systems to protect critical infrastructure such as ports, hospitals, energy networks, and transport systems. The strategy also prioritizes natural resilience through the restoration of ecosystems like mangroves, coral reefs, and wetlands. A significant legal development within these frameworks asserts that a nation’s maritime zones and legal statehood should remain intact even if its physical territory is lost to the sea. This landmark declaration, passed by consensus, provides a critical safeguard for nations whose economic zones and resources depend on established maritime limits. While the declarations are not binding treaties, they build upon existing legal frameworks, including the Convention on the Law of the Sea, to address displacement, saltwater intrusion, and economic damage. ## Claims - Antonio Guterres urged nations to develop concrete plans to phase out fossil fuels. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Renewable energy is the cheapest, fastest, and most secure source of new electricity in most locations. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The UN General Assembly formally adopted a declaration regarding rising sea levels. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Global sea levels rose by 5.9 mm in 2024, marking the largest annual increase ever recorded. (corroborated by 5 sources) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that sea level rise impacts are measured in millions of shattered lives and uprooted communities. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Germany issued a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Antonio Guterres's tenure as UN Secretary-General ends on December 31. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The UN estimates that temporarily exceeding the 1.5C warming threshold is becoming inevitable. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The UN resolution affirms that maritime zones and statehood can be preserved despite coastline shifts. (corroborated by 4 sources) - France has previously formalized a strategy to phase out fossil fuels. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Netherlands has previously formalized a strategy to phase out fossil fuels. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Guterres called for mobilizing at least 300 billion dollars annually for developing countries to support the energy transition. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-24: United Nations adopts declaration on rising sea levels The UN General Assembly adopted a declaration to protect the sovereignty and maritime rights of nations threatened by accelerating sea-level rise, which hit a record increase in 2024. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-nations-adopts-declaration-on-rising-sea-levels ### 2026-09-22: United Nations urges fossil fuel phase-out and action on rising sea levels UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent phase-out of fossil fuels and a massive scale-up of renewable energy, while the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to combat rising sea level 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/antonio-guterres-urges-fossil-fuel-phase-out-at-final-un-climate-summit --- Cite as: United Nations sea level rise response. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/united-nations-sea-level-rise-response