PACIFIC island nations are on alert after the United Nations warned of unprecedented ocean warming expected to intensify this month.
Rising temperatures threaten island communities, food security and fragile coastal ecosystems, with almost every land area on Earth forecast to experience above-normal temperatures.
In a global alert issued on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said sea-surface temperatures in key areas were expected to rise by three degrees Celsius.
“Two months ago, I warned that El Niño was arriving on our doorstep. Now it is inside the house and turning up the heat,” he said.
“We are in uncharted territory, and El Niño does not bring heat alone, it profoundly affects the world’s rainfall.”
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna said the Government had plans in place but urged communities to prepare for climate impacts.
“One of the programs that addresses this is nature-based solution seawalls, where rocks and soil are used to hold the structure. We are also working on drainage issues to avoid saltwater intrusion and channel water back to the ocean,” he said.
Mr Tunabuna said funding remained a challenge, but the Government was working with climate-focused donors and partners through the ridge-to-reef approach to strengthen community resilience.
“We do understand that we may be restricted in funding from the budget, which is why we reach out to donors,” he said.
Mr Guterres called for urgent global action through early warning systems, workplace heat standards, improved urban infrastructure and a phase-out of fossil fuels.
