Rising sea levels are becoming an increasingly tangible threat to small island states. At the United Nations, The Bahamas and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines called for an international response that takes into account both their vulnerability to climate change and their limited financial capacity.
Faced with rising sea levels and increasingly frequent climate shocks, small island states are sounding the alarm. During the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, The Bahamas and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines placed the vulnerability of island states at the heart of their interventions. The Bahamas notably supported the Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, adopted during the General Assembly. The issue goes beyond protecting populations: it also concerns safeguarding borders, statehood, and the international representation of countries threatened by rising sea levels.
“Families watched the sea take the only land they had. Most of my country sits barely above sea level. For us, a rising ocean is not a forecast. It is a boundary inching towards our doorsteps. That is why the Bahamas proudly endorses yesterday’s declaration on sea level rise, which affirms that our statehood, our boundaries, and our seat in this Assembly will not be washed away by the sea.”
Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister – Bahamas
For its part, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is calling for the full implementation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, adopted by the United Nations in 2024 to better account for the economic, social, and environmental vulnerabilities of developing countries. The aim is, in particular, to facilitate small island states’ access to concessional financing. This is a major concern following Hurricane Beryl, which struck the country on July 1, 2024, causing USD 230.6 million in damage equivalent to nearly 22% of its 2023 GDP, according to the World Bank in January 2026.
“Mr. President, we renew our call for the full operationalisation of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index so that access to concessional financing is not constrained by per capita income but reflects the real climate risks small island states face and their limited capacity to respond to such large events.”
Godwin Friday, Prime Minister – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Approximately 770 million people currently live less than five metres above the high-tide line. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, this declaration, which was approved shortly after his speech, must now pave the way for concrete action.
