At the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres issued a warning - a "global SOS" - about rising sea levels in the Pacific region.
"I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS – Save our Seas – on rising sea levels," Guterres said.
The Secretary General has warned that a "global catastrophe" threatens the Pacific region.
Guterres presented research results that indicate that sea level rise in the Pacific region is faster than the global average.
The Pacific Islands, sparsely populated and devoid of heavy industry, annually emit less than 0,02 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
According to a new report published by the UN climate agency, sea levels have risen by about 15 centimeters in certain parts of the Pacific in the last 30 years.
The global average is set at 9,4 centimeters, according to this World Meteorological Organization survey.
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