Background
The General Assembly in its decision 78/558 of 1 August 2024 decided to hold a one-day high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, no later than the last day of the general debate of its eighty-first session, to further consider sea level rise.
The meeting aims to strengthen international cooperation and collective action to address sea level rise, including by supporting developing countries, particularly those most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, as well as coastal communities, in building resilience and adapting to its consequences. The meeting will result, without setting a precedent for similar meetings, in a concise, action-oriented and intergovernmentally negotiated declaration agreed by consensus.
The President of the General Assembly appointed H.E. Mr. James Martin Larsen, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, and H.E. Ms. Tania Serafim Yvonne Romualdo, Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the United Nations, as co-facilitators to conduct the intergovernmental negotiations on the declaration.
Announcements
In order to support an open, inclusive and transparent process, a global online stakeholder consultation will gather inputs from stakeholders, including civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and other relevant actors. Inputs received through this consultation will be compiled and shared with the co-facilitators to inform the intergovernmental consultations on the declaration.
Submit your inputs here
The deadline for submissions is 15 April 2026 (COB, EDT).
Stakeholder Engagement

Global Online Stakeholder Consultation - Inputs to the Declaration of Sea Level Rise (now closed)
In order to support an open, inclusive and transparent process, a global online stakeholder consultation was organized to gather inputs from stakeholders, including civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and other relevant actors. Inputs received through this consultation will be compiled and shared with the co-facilitators to inform the intergovernmental consultations on the declaration.
Submit your inputs here: Declaration on Sea Level Rise Global Online Stakeholder Consultation – Fill out form - Deadline: 15 April 2026.
Purpose of the Consultation
The global online stakeholder consultation was organized by DESA, following guidance from the Co-Facilitators and aimed to collect substantive inputs from stakeholders that may inform the preparation of the declaration on sea level rise. The consultation provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share practical recommendations, experiences, and priorities related to addressing the risks and impacts associated with sea level rise.
Themes for Inputs
Stakeholders were invited to provide inputs aligned with the four thematic areas identified for the multi‑stakeholder panel discussions held during the 2024 High‑Level Meeting on addressing the threats posed by sea level rise:
- Knowledge, data and science to inform sea level rise risk assessments and decision‑making
- Adaptation, finance and resilience in relation to sea level rise
- Livelihoods, socioeconomic challenges and culture and heritage in relation to sea level rise
- Sea level rise and its legal dimensions
Format and Structure of Inputs
Inputs were collected through a dedicated online submission form. Stakeholders were invited to respond to the following questions:
- Considering the [THEME], list one key action that could support accelerated and collective action to address the challenges posed by sea level rise and that could be considered by Member States in the preparation of the declaration. [Interested participants will be able to add comments to each of the themes above]
- Good Practice: Please share one example of a good practice, initiative or partnership that has helped address the impacts of sea level rise and could inspire further action. [Interested participants will be able to share one example of a good practice aligned with one of the themes above]
Eligible Stakeholders
The consultation was open to a wide range of stakeholders, including non‑governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and other relevant actors.
Outcomes
Submissions will be compiled by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and shared with the Co‑Facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations.
The online consultation is now closed.
Previous Edition
Pursuant to General Assembly decision 78/544 of 16 January 2024 and General Assembly resolution 78/319 of 1 August 2024, the President of the General Assembly convened a high-level plenary meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise on 25 September 2024, during the High-Level Week of the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly. The overall theme of the high-level meeting was “Addressing the threats posed by sea-level rise”.
Taking place on the heels of the Summit of the Future, the high-level meeting focused on building a common understanding, mobilizing political leadership, and promoting multisectoral, multi-stakeholder collaboration and international cooperation to address the threats posed by sea-level rise. It aimed to deliver action-oriented solutions for affected States and frontline communities and represented a significant step forward in enhancing action on sea-level rise.
Participants worked towards developing comprehensive solutions and actionable commitments to combat sea-level rise, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future, including for small island developing States and low-lying coastal areas.
For more information, please visit the following link:
https://www.un.org/pga/78/high-level-meeting-on-sea-level-rise/