Staff Reporter
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for a more ambitious, equitable and adequately financed global response to the growing threat posed by rising sea levels, urging countries to translate international climate commitments into tangible action.
“Namibia calls for a more ambitious, equitable, and adequately financed global response, recognising developing countries’ diverse vulnerabilities and translating international commitments into tangible action. Climate justice must ensure that countries with the greatest contribution to climate change should scale up and support economies that contribute the least to climate change,” she said.
The president made these remarks at the High-Level Plenary Meeting on the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-Level Rise, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, USA.
The president emphasised that international climate finance, adaptation finance and the Loss and Damage Fund must be adequately resourced, operational, predictable and accessible to climate-vulnerable countries. She emphasised that this is urgent because the threat of sea-level rise is no longer a distant projection, but a present and accelerating reality.
“It is reshaping countries, threatening lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems, placing immense pressure on sustainable development,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah continued.
The president highlighted Namibia’s marine ecosystem, supported by the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, as one of the country’s most important natural assets. She noted that it underpins the fisheries sector, contributing to economic growth, food security and foreign exchange earnings.
“However, rising ocean temperatures, changing ocean chemistry, shifting fish stocks, and declining marine productivity threaten the sector’s sustainability. Namibia remains vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, despite its 0.01% greenhouse gas emissions,” the president continued.
She also highlighted the vulnerability of key coastal infrastructure, particularly the Port of Walvis Bay, which is situated between one and three metres above mean sea level and serves as a critical gateway to regional and international trade markets. She warned that rising sea levels could increasingly affect Namibia’s transport infrastructure, marine resources, biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“It also constitutes an economic and sustainability challenge, placing pressure on public finances and climate resilience investments. Therefore, substantial investments in coastal protection and climate-resilient infrastructure are required to safeguard trade, investment, employment, and competitiveness,” the president added.
