Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef has called for greater ambition in addressing sea-level rise, stronger legal protections and increased financial support for vulnerable countries.

Speaking on behalf of the Maldives at a UN General Assembly high-level plenary meeting, the Vice President said the solution to rising sea levels is not retreat, but greater resilience.

He recalled that the Maldives first raised the issue internationally through the 1989 Malé Declaration on Global Warming and Sea Level Rise. He said the threat has become more urgent, particularly for Small Island Developing States, their people and key economic sectors.

The Vice President called for faster access to climate finance, with support that is predictable, easily accessible and provided on favourable terms. He also stressed the need for a dedicated system to monitor sea-level rise.

On international law, he said rising sea levels must not undermine maritime boundaries, national rights or the legal status of states. He also called for climate resilience to be integrated into national development plans and economic strategies.

The Vice President urged world leaders to turn their commitments into concrete action, strengthen climate resilience and work toward a safer future.