Rising Sea Levels Pose Growing Threat To India’s Coasts, Warns Ex-Secretary-General Of WMO At TERI Summit

Last Updated:March 07, 2025, 17:09 IST

The need for a just and equitable climate transition was the central theme of TERI’s annual flagship event, which brought several global experts together ahead of this year’s COP30

Former Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Professor Petteri Taalas at the summit. (X)

India’s vast coastal areas are becoming increasingly vulnerable to impact of climate change due to alarming rise in sea levels and record-breaking temperatures, warned former Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Professor Petteri Taalas.

“The sea level rise has almost doubled over the past 20 years, from 2mm per year to now 5mm per year in some places. India’s coastal population faces a serious threat, not just from the rising sea levels, but intensifying tropical cyclones. Warmer seas are likely to fuel more energy into these cyclones, making them far more destructive,” said Professor Taalas, while speaking to CNN-News18 on the sidelines of TERI’s annual flagship event – the World Sustainable Development Summit 2025.

The senior Finnish meteorologist helmed the WMO – the UN’s authoritative agency on weather and climate – from 2016 to 2023, during which it also made a global call for early warnings for all extreme weather events. “It is critical for adaptation. Yet, there are about 100 countries which do not have these weather warnings in place,” he added, while asserting the need for countries to focus more on adaptation, apart from mitigation.

Speaking on the setbacks to climate action in the wake of the US withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement, the former WMO chief said the current stance of the administration, coupled with the changing geopolitical situation in Europe, remains a concern.

Prof Petteri Taalas, Director General, The Finnish Meteorological Institute, gave a presentation on Finland’s development in addressing climate change.H.E. Ms May-Elin Stener (@NorwayAmbIndia ), Ambassador, @norwayinindia , underscored, “Norway has a history of managing marine… pic.twitter.com/MJYxPHT7hI

— TERI (@teriin) March 6, 2025

“Some institutions and individuals are still not ready to accept climate change, despite clear scientific facts. But such groups are slowly becoming a minority. Most governments now understand the challenge of climate change. Also, the good news is that some of the biggest private sector companies, including those in the US, are becoming interested in investing in climate solutions. India too has many start-ups now which are working in green transition,” he said.

The senior scientist, who is currently the Director-General of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, also expressed concerns over the challenges being faced by forecasters across the globe, due to increasing weather variability. “We have seen how the temperature fluctuated so drastically on some days from -35℃ to +5℃ in places. It is unusual. Due to warming, there is also more humidity in the atmosphere. Now places like East Africa are also witnessing tropical cyclones. The extremes are more drastic now,” he added.

WMO has recently announced that 2024 was the first calendar year when the global mean temperature surged past 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900 average). There was an annual spike of nearly 1.55℃, leading to record-breaking heatwaves in many countries, including India. “We are reporting negative news year by year, especially in terms of Carbon Dioxide and Methane emissions. Even though we breached the Paris Agreement’s target temporarily in 2024, it is expected that we would exceed that level in this 2030 decade on a permanent basis,” he added apprehensively.

Earlier in the day, Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil, delivered a keynote address at the event, stressing the urgency of global cooperation in tackling climate change. “As we move towards COP30, we must accelerate the implementation of the commitments made in Dubai and Baku. We must advance on our transitions from fossil fuels while stepping up on climate finance,” she added.

The three-day World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025 saw global experts deliberate on key issues of climate financing and sustainable energy transitions. The sessions underscored the urgency of collaborative action in the lead-up to the UN Climate Summit COP30 and beyond, with a strong emphasis on bridging the financial gap for climate action and ensuring an inclusive, just transition.

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