Last February, the UN secretary-general informed the UN Security Council during a debate about the implications of rising sea levels on international peace and security, with mega-cities on every continent facing serious impacts.
These cities include Lagos, Maputo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires and Santiago, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Caused by global warming, rising sea levels threaten existing maritime boundaries, mass displacement of populations and the national survival of low-lying small island states. This year's temperature records are rising around the world. At the same time, nations are failing to fulfil their commitments to comply with the 2015 Paris Agreement's target of keeping long-term global warming within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
