UN warns that oceans are rising and we will live a real-life disaster movie

The Secretary General of the United NationsAntónio Guterres, issued an alarming global alert about the rapid rise of the Pacific Ocean, comparing the situation to a disaster movie, but one that is unfortunately happening in real life. Like a movie plot in which the planet faces devastating natural disasters, rising ocean temperatures are triggering a series of life-threatening events in various parts of the world. According to the UN report, released on Tuesday (27), sea temperatures in the Pacific region are rising at a much higher rate than the global average, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Real threat

Just like in movies where oceans rise and flood cities, rising sea levels are a reality that results from global warming. As temperatures rise, the polar ice caps melt, releasing huge volumes of water that cause the oceans to rise. The report reveals that in some areas of the Pacific, sea levels have risen by 15 centimeters in the last 30 years. While it may seem like a detail in a movie, in real life, this rise has profound and threatening implications.

Paradisiacal scenarios in danger

The Pacific islands, which often appear as paradisiacal settings in films, have now become the protagonists of a dark and dangerous story. These islands are particularly vulnerable due to their low elevation, which varies from one to two meters above sea level. In a direct analogy to disaster movies, where people run for their lives from giant waves, about 90% of the population of these islands lives less than 5 kilometers from the coast, and half of the infrastructure is just 500 meters from the sea. The threat is imminent and real, and the consequences can be devastating.

In a desperate call, similar to that of a hero trying to save the world, António Guterres has issued a global SOS, warning of the “global catastrophe” that threatens this Pacific paradise. Climate change is not fiction, but a tangible and growing threat that is transforming the reality of these island communities into a veritable environmental horror film.

Area most affected by warming

The situation is further compounded by the rapid rise in sea surface temperatures in the southwest Pacific, which are occurring three times faster than the global average since 1980, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This rapid rise in temperatures is the driver behind the devastating storms, floods and other tragedies that have become increasingly frequent. Although these islands are small and emit less than 0.02% of annual global CO2 emissions, they are paying a high price for a disaster they did not create.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that, just like in a movie where time is running out to prevent total destruction, time to reverse the damage caused by climate change is rapidly running out. Last year, 34 catastrophic hydrometeorological events, mainly storms and floods, resulted in more than 200 deaths and affected 25 million people in the Pacific region.

Areas with elevation 3 times higher

In places like Kiribati and the Cook Islands, sea level rise was close to the global average, but in other areas, like the capitals of Samoa and Fiji, the rise was nearly three times greater, reaching 31 centimeters and 29 centimeters, respectively. These numbers are not just statistics; they are the script for a tragic movie that, if not stopped, will lead to fatal outcomes for millions of people around the world.

Summary for those in a hurry:

• The rising Pacific Ocean is happening at an alarming rate, similar to something out of a disaster movie.
• Climate change is the main factor behind rising temperatures and sea levels.
• The Pacific Islands are among the most vulnerable regions, with their communities on the brink of disaster.
• Despite being responsible for less than 0.02% of global CO2 emissions, these islands suffer serious impacts.
• Storms and flooding in the Pacific have resulted in more than 200 deaths and affected 25 million people in the past year.
• Sea level rise in some areas of the Pacific has been up to three times greater than the global average.