Following guidance from the co-facilitators of the intergovernmental negotiations on the declaration on sea level rise, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has launched a global online consultation to gather inputs from stakeholders. The consultation is open until 15 April 2026.

In 2024, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) decided to hold a one-day high-level plenary meeting during its 81st session to further consider sea level rise. The goal of the meeting is to strengthen international cooperation and collective action to address sea level rise and to support developing countries, particularly climate-vulnerable ones, as well as coastal communities in building resilience and adapting to its consequences. The meeting’s expected outcome is a concise, action-oriented intergovernmentally negotiated declaration, agreed by consensus.

In December 2025, UNGA President Annalena Baerbock appointed Permanent Representative of Australia James Martin Larsen and Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde Tania Serafim Yvonne Romualdo as co-facilitators of the intergovernmental negotiations on the declaration.

The global consultation seeks to collect substantive inputs from stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and other relevant actors, to inform the preparation of the declaration. It will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share recommendations, experiences, and priorities related to addressing sea level rise and its risks and impacts.

Stakeholders are encouraged to align their inputs with the four thematic areas identified for the multi‑stakeholder panel discussions, held during the 2024 UNGA High-level Meeting to Address Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise:

• Knowledge, data, and science to inform sea level rise risk assessments and decision making;
• Adaptation, finance, and resilience in relation to sea level rise;
• Livelihoods, socioeconomic challenges, and culture and heritage in relation to sea level rise; and
• Sea level rise and its legal dimensions.

Inputs can be submitted through a dedicated online submission form at this link. Stakeholders will be invited to respond to questions relating to the four themes by:

• Sharing a key action that could support accelerated and collective action to address the challenges posed by sea level rise and that could be considered by Member States in the preparation of the declaration; and
• Highlighting a good practice, initiative, or partnership that has helped address the impacts of sea level rise and could inspire further action. 

DESA will compile and share the submissions with the co‑facilitators. [Call for Stakeholder Inputs to the Declaration on Sea Level Rise]