Southwest Pacific faces rising threat from warming oceans: UN

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Sydney: The United Nations has warned that the southwest Pacific faces a ‘increasing risk’ from rapidly warming waters, with rising sea temperatures harming marine ecosystems, fisheries, coastal people, and regional economy.

According to a new UN assessment, ocean temperatures in the southwest Pacific have risen approximately three times faster than the global average since the 1980s, generating more frequent marine heatwaves, coral bleaching, and stronger tropical cyclones. The warming is also driving sea-level rise, placing low-lying island nations at greater risk of coastal erosion, flooding and saltwater intrusion.

According to the report, Pacific Island countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change, although producing only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions. It warned that damage to coral reefs and fisheries could jeopardise regional food security, tourism, and livelihoods.

United Nations officials urged states to increase climate adaption measures, improve early warning systems, and accelerate global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They emphasised the need of controlling global warming in protecting the Pacific's people, biodiversity, and economies from the consequences of climate change.