Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Arria-Fomula Meeting on “Sea-Level Rise and Implications for International Peace and Security”

Mr. President,
 
I thank you and the co-sponsors for organizing today’s meeting. Let me also thank Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Khaled Khiari and all other briefers for their valuable inputs.
 
The issue of sea-level rise might not seem to fit into the conventional agenda of peace and security of the UN, but it certainly is a serious challenge to security in two different aspects. One to the State security and the other to human security. Allow me to further elaborate.
 
First, from the State security perspective. For a nation, losing its territory is nothing but a critical issue of State security. Receding coastlines and submerging lowlands are an existential threat especially for small island developing States (SIDS). Furthermore, recession of baseline and disappearance of remote islands in border areas could potentially create territorial disputes, particularly on maritime borders between neighboring States.
 
These new legal issues related to statehood and law of the sea need to be discussed among the Member States, taking into account the ongoing discussions in the International Law Commission. They need to be addressed in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
 
Second, from human security perspective, the sea-level rise is an existential threat for the people who live near the shore. Not only does the receding coastlines deprive them of their land, but increase the risk of disasters caused by tsunami and flood tide.
 
The UN system needs to tackle these challenges in a holistic manner under the peace development and humanitarian nexus. In this regard, the Security Council should take full advantage of inputs from the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), which has a comparative advantage in addressing interrelated security challenges and ensuring coherent system-wide efforts for sustaining peace.
 
Mr. President,
 
Japan attaches great importance to the issue of sea-level rise and has promoted dialogues with affected countries including through the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) and the Japan-CARICOM framework.
 
Fully recognizing the particular vulnerabilities of SIDS, since 2015 Japan has been providing assistance based on their particular needs in a flexible manner, regardless of per capita income levels. Japan looks forward to the outcome of the discussions on a multi-dimensional vulnerability index by DESA and UN-OHRLLS.
 
Climate change mitigation and adaptation seem to be the only effective measures to curb sea-level rise and its negative impacts. Japan will provide climate finance, both public and private, totaling approximately USD 60 billion from 2021 to 2025 and will further enhance its assistance for adaptation.
 
Japan will continue to work closely with others to address the issue of sea-level rise.
 
I thank you.