Wesley Simina, President of Micronesia, emphasized that any measures taken under the UN80 initiative must reflect the delicate balance and unique vulnerabilities faced by small island developing States.  “The climate crisis is not up for debate — we all know that; the only question now is whether we as leaders will act with the urgency it demands,” he said, recalling the obligation of developed countries to support the adaptation efforts of countries living with the impacts of climate change every day.  “Cutting methane now could prevent 0.3°C of warming by the 2040s, slowing ocean heating and buying us time for long-term decarbonization,” he stressed.  This is the only scalable near-term solution that can protect vulnerable nations and peoples today.

His country is committed to achieving an ambitious global agreement to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, he continued.  “This pollution — including climate-warming greenhouse gases and thousands of other toxic chemicals — severely impacts our health, our environment and our economies,” he underscored.  Micronesia is also participating in the related critical work of the International Seabed Authority, following a precautionary approach to deep seabed mining. 

Underscoring that the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index is vital, as it recognizes economic, environmental and social fragilities and provides a fairer framework for allocating resources, he called for its adoption by international bodies, continuous technical refinement and strong commitment from partners to align financial and policy support with the vulnerabilities the Index reveals.  “As the digital world advances at an unprecedented pace, global cooperation is essential to ensure that AI systems remain safe, secure and trustworthy,” he added. 

Food and water security remain pressing challenges for his country, as fragile freshwater sources and climate extremes undermine agriculture and marine ecosystems, reduce yields of traditional crops and increase reliance on costly, less-nutritious imports, he noted. “Just days ago, I was compelled to declare a national state of emergency due to an ongoing oil leak from a World War II sunken vessel in Chuuk Lagoon,” he said.  He emphasized the urgent need to add underrepresented voices to the Security Council, including Japan, India, Germany, Brazil and the African continent.