Ocean heat and sea-level rise threaten communities in the South-West Pacific

Unprecedented Ocean warming engulfed the South-West Pacific in 2024, harming ecosystems and economies, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which highlighted how sea level rise is threatening islands in a region where more than half the population live close to the coast. The State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2024 Report estimated that each year, at least 50,000 Pacific islanders face the risk of displacement due to the adverse effects of climate change.