80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Informal meeting of the General Committee

March 4, 2026

Madame President,

Micronesia aligns its statement with the statement made by the distinguished representative of Capo Verde on behalf of AOSIS

For Micronesia and for all Small Island Developing States, sea‑level rise presents severe physical threats to our lands, our communities, and the stability of our development pathways. Our Leaders have been clear: the international community must respond with sustained, high‑level political attention to safeguard the continuity of our states, the security of our peoples, and the permanence of our maritime zones, consistent with the positions of the Pacific Islands Forum and AOSIS.

If the General Assembly must limit High‑Level Week to three mandated meetings, then one of them must address sea‑level rise. No other issue before us so directly affects the physical integrity of Member States and the long‑term security of their societies. Removing this meeting would run counter to commitments already made by this Assembly and diminish the visibility and progress required to advance the legal, financial, and resilience measures that SIDS urgently need.

We therefor strongly support retaining the high-level event on sea-level rise as one of the three high-level events for the upcoming General Assembly.

This event provides a vital platform to sustain political attention, mobilize scientific and financial cooperation, and strengthen the global response to one of the most urgent and irreversible challenges of our time. Maintaining this focus at the highest level of the UN will ensure that the voices and lived realities of the most affected states and peoples remain at the center of international decision-making.

Thank you.