DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has called on the international community to translate commitments into concrete action to help developing countries address the growing impacts of rising sea levels, the Vice President's Office said Friday in a statement.
Addressing a high-level United Nations General Assembly meeting on sea-level rise in New York on Thursday, Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi warned that the phenomenon is no longer a future threat but is already affecting lives, economies and ecosystems worldwide, the statement said.
According to the statement, the East African nation is particularly vulnerable because of its Indian Ocean coastline, as well as Zanzibar and other islands, where millions of people depend on fishing, tourism and trade.
Ndejembi said coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources and flooding pose growing risks to communities, infrastructure and development gains.
To counter these challenges, Tanzania is actively strengthening coastal protection, restoring mangroves and other ecosystems, improving water security and implementing community-led climate adaptation measures, he said.
However, the vice president stressed that national efforts alone are insufficient, urging adequate, predictable and accessible climate finance, technology transfer, and effective early-warning systems for vulnerable developing countries.
Ndejembi reiterated Tanzania's support for the adoption of a joint declaration from the meeting, urging the world to move from commitments to measurable implementation. ■