The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted its first-ever declaration on sea-level rise. It affirms that island nations do not automatically lose statehood if rising seas submerge their territory, and it backs the stability of established maritime zones even as coastlines shift. The declaration calls for stronger early warning systems, coastal protection and climate adaptation finance, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). About 770 million people live less than five metres above the high-tide line.